The Sutherland Family of Berrien County, Michigan

LEWIS SUTHERLAND, of Benton Harbor, a retired farmer and horticulturist, dates his residence in Michigan from 1836 and in Berrien county from 1840. A few of the old time settlers can remember the conditions which existed in this part of the state at that time. Only at rare intervals could be found a tract of land that had been placed under the plow. The forests were uncut and in their midst roamed various kinds of wild animals. There were also herds of deer and many kinds of lesser game. The rivers were unbridged and only here and there had a road been cut through the forest. A wonderful transformation has been wrought since that time, for the traveler today sees little or none of the native forests, but finds in its place well cultivated orchards

0>layC (£ iJfZ;udcyjL bearing their fruit in season and proving a vast source of revenue to the county.

Mr. Sutherland, who is now retired after many years of active connection with business interests, was born in Barker, Broome county. New York, on the 28th of February, 1 83 1, his parents being Lot and Lydia (BHss) Sutherland. The father was a farmer by occupation and spent his earlier life in the Empire State. He came to Michigan in 1836, settling at Kalamazoo, where he lived for four years, after which he came to Berrien county, locating in Bainbridge township near Millburg, where he followed the occupation of farming up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1873. His wife, however, had passed away shortly after their arrival in Michigan and the father had reared his family of eight children, three of whom are now living. His political support was given to the Democracy, but he was never active in politics.

Lewis Sutherland is familiar with all of the pioneer experiences of Berrien county, living here when this district was a frontier region. He attended the first school of Bainbridge township, the 'little temple of learning" being a log building. He can rememlDer seeing a drove of twenty-five deer pass by the schoolhouse. The methods of instruction were as primitive as was the school building and its furnishings, but in the school of experience he has learned many valuable lessons. His training at farm labor was not meager, for at an early age he assisted in the arduous task of developing the new fields and caring for the crops. Throughout his active business career he has carried on general agricultural pursuits and fruit-raising. Early coming to a realization of the special adaptability of the county to horticulture he began raising various kinds of fruits and this proved to him a profitable source of income. He has performed the difficult task of clearing land, has turned the first furrows on many a field and as the years went by he reaped a good financial return for his labors, owing to the productiveness of the soil and his capable business methods. He continued to reside upon the farm until 1901 when he removed to Benton Harbor and purchased his present fine home on Superior street. He was the owner of about four hundred acres of valuable land in Benton township, which he has now divided among his sons. In 1860 he was married to Miss Matilda A. Howard, a daughter of Joseph S. Howard, of Ohio, who came to Michigan at an early day and here followed farming. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Sutherland have been born six children: Sterling, a successful fruit grower of Benton township, who owns eighty acres of land; Darwin B., who is also engaged in horticultural pursuits, largely devoting his attention to the cultivation of peaches; Lott F., a farmer and fruit grower of Benton township; Addie, who married Rodney C. Pearl, and two children who died in youth. While Mr. Sutherland is not actively connected with any business enterprise at the present time he is yet a director in the State Bank of Benton Harbor. In 1902 he built the Masonic Temple of Benton Harbor, being deeply interested in Masonry, having become a member of the craft in 1852. He has been most loyal to its teachings and tenets and both he and his wife are members of the Order of the Eastern Star. He belongs to the Universalist Church and has been a champion of many progressive public movements. He has always been a warm friend of the cause of education and was instrumental in establishing some of the earlier schools of the county, while for many years he served as a school director and for three years was highway commissioner. His political allegiance has long been given to the Democracy. In the midst of an active life he has ever found opportunity to assist in any movement for the general welfare and his labors have been effective and far reaching.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOHN R. SUTHERLAND. In the death of John R. Sutherland Berrien county lost one of her most prominent and useful citizens, for he was numbered among the honored pioneers who aided in laying the foundation for the present prosperity and progress of the county. He was born in Broome county, New York, September 8, 1832, and was but seven years of age when brought by his parents to Michigan, the family home first being established in Kalamazoo county, near the city of that name. Four years later a removal was made to Berrien county, and when John R. had attained the age of eleven years the family located in Bainbridge township, which was his home for many years. After his marriage, October 5, 1856, Mr. Sutherland settled in Pipestone township, his first home being a little log house and his first farm consisted of eighty acres, to which he subsequently added another eighty-acre tract, but afterward sold forty acres of his farm. Wild was the region into which he came, and from that early period he was prominently identified with the history of southwestern Michigan, being closely connected with the progress and advancement of this section. He was a Democrat in his political affiliations, and fraternally was a member of the Masonic order. His death occurred on the 22d of December, 1904. His was a long, useful, active and honorable life.

and his name is indelibly inscribed on the pages of Berrien county's history. His remains were buried in the Penyan cemetery in Bainbridge township.

Mrs. Sutherland, who bore the maiden name of Mary A. Shippy, was born in Jefferson county, New York, February 24, 1834, a daughter of William Shippy, also a native of that state, and who died when his daughter was but seven years old. Her mother, nee Lydia Ingraham, also a native of the Empire state, afterward married George CoUis, and in 1848 came with her husband to Berrien county, Mrs. Sutherland being then fifteen years of age. After her marriage she located in Pipestone township, where since her husband's death she has had the supervision of the old homestead farm of one hundred acres. For fifty-eight years she has made her home within the borders of Berrien county, and during fifty years of that time has resided in Pipestone township, so she has been a witness of almost its entire development and progress. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Sutherland, six sons and two daughters, namely: Ida, the wife of S. M. Clawson, whose history appears on other pages in this work; Edgar G., who died in California at the age of twenty-four years; Lissa, the wife of Theodore Hartsell, of Pipestone township; Nelson B., who married Clara Ely; John H., who married Vena Bakeman; Charles W., who married Maggie Rush; Ovid O., who married Katie Rush; and Aubrey D., who was drowned on the 4th of July, 1906, and who had married May Pearl. All of the children were born and reared in Pipestone township.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

STERLING L. SUTHERLAND, who is well known as one of the leading fruit growers of Berrien county, his home being in Benton township, where he has eighty acres of land, was born in this county on the 23d of February, 1861, and is the eldest of the six children whose parents were Lewis and Matilda A. Sutherland. The father is now living retired in Benton Harbor after giving many years to general agricultural and horticultural pursuits. He dates his residence in Michigan from 1836 and in Berrien county from 1840. He was born in Barker, Broome county. New York, on the 28th of February, 1831, and was a son of Lott and Lydia (Bliss) Sutherland. The grandfather was a farmer by occupation and spent his earlier life in the Empire state, when in 1836 he came to Michigan, settling in Kalamazoo. After four years he came to Berrien county, locating in Bainbridge township near Millburg, where he followed farming until his death in 1873. His wife passed away shortly after their arrival in Michigan and the father reared their family of eight children, three of whom are now living. He voted with the Democracy but was never active in politics.

Lewis Sutherland, father of our subject, was reared and educated upon the frontier, pursuing his studies in a log schoolhouse. He assisted in the farm work, aiding in the arduous task of developing new fields and caring for the crops and throughout his active business career he carried on general agricultural pursuits and fruit raising. Becoming convinced of the adaptability of the county for horticultural pursuits, he began raising various kinds of fruits and this proved to him a profitable business. Fie continued to reside upon the farm until 1901, when he removed to Benton Harbor and purchased his present fine home on Superior street. He was the owner of about four hundred acres of valuable land in Benton township, which he has now divided among his sons. A few of the old time settlers can remember the conditions which existed in this part of the state at the time of Mr. Sutherland's arrival here. Only at rare intervals could be found a tract of land that had been placed under the plow. Wild animals roamed through the forest and herds of deer and many kinds of lesser game were seen. A wonderful transformation has been wrought since those early days, for the traveler today sees little or none of the native forest but finds instead well cultivated orchards, bearing their fruits in season and the change is due to the enterprise and labors of such men as Lewis Sutherland. In 1860 he married Matilda A. Howard, a daughter of Joseph S. Howard, of Ohio, who came to Michigan at an early day and here followed farming. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Sutherland have been born six children: Sterling, of this review; Darwin B., largely engaged in the cultivation of peaches in this county; Lott F., a farmer and fruit grower of Benton township; Mrs. Addie Pearl; and two children who died in youth.

Lewis Sutherland, while practically retired from business cares, is a director in the State Bank of Benton harbor. In 1902 he built the Masonic Temple of Benton Harbor and has been an active representative of Masonry since 1852. He belongs to the Universalist church and has been a champion of many progressive measures. His ballot supports the Democracy, and he has served as highway commissioner and as school director.. He is numbered today among the honored and prominent pioneer settlers of the county.

Sterling L. Sutherland remained at home until he had attained his majority. He pursued the greater part of his education in the common district schools but was also for two winters a student in the high school in Benton Harbor. He early became familiar with farm labor in its various departments gaining that practical knowledge which has been the source of his success in later years.

After reaching man's estate Mr. Sutherland was married on the 28th of December, 1 88 1, to Miss Elma D. Pearl, a daughter of Major Pearl. He settled on a farm at Pearl Grange upon land belonging to his father and he also worked his father's farm for three years, the two places adjoining. His father then gave him forty acres of land which was comprised in the old Ripley farm on Brittain avenue, where he at once began the task of clearing and developing his place, ditching and draining it and erecting thereon good buildings. He lived there for seven years, at the end of which time he purchased his present farm comprising eighty acres located on the township line and situated about six miles from Benton Liarbor. It adjoins the old homestead and is known as the old Jonathan Rose farm, Mr. Rose having converted it from a tract of wild land into a good farm property. Mr. Sutherland has cleared thirty acres of this land and now all is under cultivation. He rebuilt the barn in 1891 and erected a new house in 1905. It is a modern structure, thoroughly up-to-date in every particular and constitutes one of the fine country residences. It contains ten rooms, is heated with a furnace and supplied with many modern equipments and in fact is one of the best homes of the county. Mr. Sutherland is devoting his time and energies to the cultivation of fruit, although he raises hay and grain to some extent. Pie makes a specialty, however, of peaches, plums and apples, all of which he has set out himself. He has fifteen acres planted to young apple trees, one thousand each trees, seventeen hundred pear trees and one hundred plum trees. From a each orchard of six acres he sold in 1905 fruit to the value of fifteen hundred dollars. Pie is now planting six acres to grapes, so that he will soon have one half of this land in fruit. The land is especially suited for the production of years, plums and grapes and in 1905 he gathered five hundred baskets of grapes from forty-eight plants. During the summer season his fruit farm is certainly a most attractive place with its splendid crops of fine fruit. He plants only the best varieties and his fruit therefore in size, quality and flavor is unsurpassed and finds a ready sale on the market, commanding high prices.

Mr. Sutherland in 1892 was called upon to mourn the loss of his first wife, who died on the nth of January of that year, leaving two sons, one of whom died the same year. The other, Era L., is still living at the age of fourteen. On the 21st of September, 1892, Mr. Sutherland was again married, his second union being with Miss Sarah Archer, a daughter of Dovis Archer, township treasurer of Pipestone township. It was in that township that Mrs. Sutherland was born and her entire life has been passed in this county.

In his political affiliations Mr. Sutherland is a Democrat, unfaltering in his advocacy of the principles of the party and has frequently been sent as a delegate to county conventions and takes an active interest in local elections. He is a Mason, belonging to Lake Shore lodge, six residents of his neighborhood taking the. degrees of the lodge in the winter of 1905-6. He is also an Odd Fellow, having been identified with the order since he attained his majority, and he has passed all of the chairs in Benton Lodge, No. 132. He is likewise connected with the Tribe of Ben Hur. Mr. Sutherland has always lived in Benton township and is well known to its citizens, by whom he is held in high regard, enjoying the friendship of many with whom business and social relations have brought him in contact. Work, persistent, earnest, indefatigable work, has been the key that has unlocked for him the portals of success, making him one of the substantial fruit raisers of Benton township.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

DARWIN B. SUTHERLAND, who is engaged in fruit growing and truck farming in Benton township, was born in this township. May 16, 1869. His birthplace being on the farm on which he now resides on section 36. He is a representative of one of the old pioneer families of the county. His paternal grandparents were Lot and Lydia (Bliss) Sutherland, the former a farmer by occupation. He spent his earlier life in New York and in 1836 came to Michigan, settling in Kalamazoo, where he lived for four years, on the expiration of which period he removed to Bainbridge township, Berrien county, his home being near Millburg. There he followed the occupation of farming until his death, which occurred in 1873. His wife, however, passed away shortly after their arrival in Michigan and the father reared the family of eight children, three of whom are yet living. He voted with the Democracy. It is to this family that Lewis Sutherland, father of our subject and a resident of Benton Harbor, belonged. He was born in Barker, Broome county, New York, February 28, 1 83 1, and he arrived in Michigan in 1836 and in Berrien county in 1842, thus casting in his lot with the pioneer settlers. He attended the first school in Bainbridge township, the building being erected of logs. He also aided in the difficult task of developing a new farm and throughout his active business career carried on general agricultural pursuits and fruit raising. He gave much attention to horticulture, finding this to be a profitable enterprise and for many years was known as one of the most successful farmers and fruit-growers in the community. He continued to reside upon his farm until 1901, when he removed to Benton Harbor and purchased his present fine home on Superior street. He owned four hundred acres of valuable land in Benton township, which he has divided among his sons. He, too, votes with the Democracy, and he is a member of the Universalist church. He also belongs to the Masonic fraternity and to the Order of the Eastern Star and in 1902 he built the Masonic Temple at Benton Harbor. He is also one of the directors of the State Bank at Benton Harbor and these interests bring him a good income. He was married in 1860 to Miss Matilda A. Howard, a daughter of Joseph S. Howard, of Ohio, who came to Michigan at an early day and followed farming. Mr. and Mrs. Sutherland had a family of six children: Sterling, a successful fruitgrower of Benton township, who owns eighty acres of land; Darwin B., of this review; Lott F., a farmer and fruit grower of Benton township; Addie, the wife of Rodney C. Pearl; and two children who died in early life.

Darwin B. Sutherland was educated in the district schools, in the Benton Harbor high school and in Benton Harbor College and was thus well qualified by liberal intellectual training for life's practical duties. He taught school three years in the home district but gave up the profession of teaching to follow the life of a farmer and fruit grower and is now successfully and actively engaged in agricultural pursuits and in raising vegetables for the city markets. He has made a specialty of melons and has about fifty acres set out to peaches, of which thirty-seven acres are in bearing. He also has seventeen acres planted to apples, of which eight acres are in the old orchard and nine acres in an orchard four years old. He purchases excellent nursery stock and annually harvests good crops, his products finding a ready sale on the market because of superiority in size quality and flavor.

Mr. Sutherland was married on the 22d day of December, 1897, to Miss Lulu Lewis, who was born in Keeler township, Van Buren county, Michigan, and is a daughter of Lawrence and Mary Lewis. Mr. Sutherland holds liberal religious views and in politics has always been a Democrat, unfaltering in his advocacy of the party. He is now serving as township treasurer of Benton township and at all times he is loyal to the duties of citizenship, taking an active interest in whatever tends to promote the welfare and progress of his native county.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

LOTT F. SUTHERLAND. The name of Sutherland has been closely associated with Berrien county and its prominence from pioneer times. His father was among the pioneers who set out for the ever receding west and aided in subduing the land and extending the frontier. He was_one of the sturdy, grave men who fought and toiled and hoped and who realized in varying measure the hope that led them to this section of the country. He aided in making the country known for its vast possibilities and for many years was closely associated with its development but is now living retired. He dates his residence in Michigan from 1838 and in Berrien county from 1842. He was born in Barker, Broome county, New York, on the 28th of February, 1831, and was a son of Lott and Lydia (Bliss) Sutherland. The grandfather was a farmer by occupation and spent his earlier life in the Empire state, when in 1836 he came to Michigan, settling in Kalamazoo. After four years he came to Berrien county, locating in Bainbridge township near Millburg, where he followed farming until his death in 1873. His wife passed away shortly after their arrival in Michigan and the father reared their family of eight children, three of whom are now living. He voted with the Democracy but was never active in politics.

Lewis Sutherland, father of our subject, was reared and educated upon the frontier, pursuing his studies in a log schoolhouse. He assisted in the farm work, aiding in the arduous task of developing new fields and caring for the crops and throughout his active business career he carried on general agricultural pursuits and fruit raising. Becoming convinced of the adaptability of the county for horticultural pursuits, he began raising various kinds of fruits and this proved to him a profitable business. He continued to reside upon the farm until 1 901, when he removed to Benton Harbor and purchased his present fine home on Superior street. He was the owner of about four hundred acres of valuable land in Benton township, which he has now divided among his sons. A few of the old time settlers can remember the conditions which existed in this part of the state at the time of Mr. Sutherland's arrival here. Only at rare intervals could be found a tract of land that had been placed under the plow. Wild animals roamed through the forest and herds of deer and many kinds of lesser game were seen. A wonderful transformation has been wrought since those early days, for the traveler today sees little or none of the native forest but finds instead well cultivated orchards, bearing their fruits in season and the change is due to the enterprise and labors of such men as Lewis Sutherland. In 1860 he married Matilda A. Howard, a daughter of Joseph S. Howard, of Ohio, who came to Michigan at an early day and here followed farming. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Sutherland have been born six children: Sterling, who is represented on another page of this work; Darwin B., largely engaged in the cultivation of peaches in this county; Lott F., of this review; Mrs. Addie E. Pearl; and two children who died in youth.

Lewis Sutherland, while practically retired from business cares is a director in the State Bank of Benton Harbor. In 1902 he built the Masonic Temple of Benton Harbor and has been an active representative of Masonry since 1852. He belongs to the Universalist church and has been a champion of many progressive measures. His ballot supports the Democracy and he has served as highway commissioner and as school director. He is numbered today among the honored and prominent pioneer settlers of the county.

Lott F. Sutherland was born on the old family homestead at Pearl Grange in Benton township, May i6, 1871. No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm Hfe for him in his youth, for he worked in the fields through the periods of vacation and during the school year pursued his studies, thus becoming equipped for life's practical and responsible duties. He remained upon the old homestead farm until twenty-six years of age and when twenty-two years of age he was married to Miss Lena V. Conklin, a daughter of Josiah Conklin, of Hartford, Van Buren county, Michigan. She was born in Hartford but was largely reared in Benton Harbor, where she completed her education by a high school course.

At the time of his marriage Lott F. Sutherland located upon the old homestead which he operated in connection with his father for several years, after which he removed to his own farm, purchasing one hundred and forty-two acres of rich and productive land in Benton township. He had previously become owner of the greater part of this property and it was partially improved. All is under cultivation and about seventy acres is planted to fruit, for he engaged quite extensively in the raising of peaches, apples and years, his orchards being mostly young trees. He sold over sixteen hundred barrels of apples in one season and thirty-two of thirty-three hundred bushels of peaches in a season. The soil is well adapted for the purpose for which it is used and Mr. Sutherland is among those who have made this section of the state a splendid fruit producing center, for fruit raising is now one of the chief sources of income in Berrien county. He has made a close study of the needs of the trees as to soil, climate and nourishment and has secured the nursery stock best adapted to this district, so that he has now good orchards in fine bearing condition.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Sutherland have been born three children, Iva, Hazel and Leah. Mr. Sutherland is a Mason and belongs to Pearl Grange. His political allegiance is given to the Democracy, but he has never been an aspirant for office, preferring to give undivided attention to his business affairs. He is a worthy representative of the well known and prominent pioneer family and as such and by reason of his genuine personal worth deserves mention in this volume.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.