The Vanderveer Family of Berrien County, Michigan

JOHN T. VANDERVEER, living on section 5, Watervliet township, owns a farm of one hundred and sixty acres of rich and productive land which borders the Van Buren county line and is pleasantly situated four and a half miles north of Coloma and two miles from Lake Michigan. Here he has lived since the spring of 1878, having, however, purchased the farm the previous year. He carries on general farming and is also engaged in fruit raising and in making butter and is leading a busy, useful life, his efforts being crowned with a fair measure of success.

Mr. Vanderveer was born in Battle Creek, Calhoun county, Michigan, on the 3d of December, 1851. His father, James Vanderveer, was born in Montgomery county,

New York, and was descended from Holland ancestors, who were among the old Knickerbocker families of the Empire State. About 1848 he came alone to Michigan, although but a boy, and made his way to Battle Creek, where later he was connected with the hardware trade for five years. During his residence there he was married to Miss Nancy C. Young, also a native of the Empire State, the wedding being celebrated about 1850. He was very prosperous for some time in the conduct of his mercantile interests in Battle Creek and carried a stock valued at forty thousand dollars, but when in New York city buying goods for his store it was destroyed by fire and the insurance company refused to pay him a cent of insurance because of a flaw in the policy. He then came to Benton township, Berrien county, and purchased a small farm of eighty acres, formerly the John Downing property. This is an old landmark of the county and in the early days was known as the Starling Howard farm. James Vanderveer at once began the cultivation and improvement of the property, devoting his attention in the earlier years to the raising of grain and later to the production of apples. He also bought and owned other farms, operating three or four farms himself, having land near Coloma as well as in Benton township. He was indeed an earnest and indefatigable worker and good business man and in his farming operations he prospered, becoming quite successful and accumulating an estate greater than that which he lost in Battle Creek. During his last years he lived retired. He continued a resident of Berrien county for about forty years and was respected for what he accomplished and by reason of his genuine personal worth. He was a man of marked individuality and force of character and though the fire and its consequent loss was enough to discourage a man of much resolution of spirit he nevertheless in determined manner set to work to retrieve his loss and build up a good estate for his family. He died May 5, 1901, respected and honored by all who knew him and his widow still survives, now making her home with her son, William N. In

8o4 their family were eight children, four of whom reached mature years, namely: John; William N., Ernest and Elizabeth, the last named being the wife of John Downing. The father was a Republican and held minor offices. He took a deep interest in the success and growth of his party and delighted in the progress made by the county along all lines of substantial and permanent improvement. He was very practical in all of his methods and far sighted and sagacious in his business affairs. He made excellent improvements upon the home property and after devoting his attention to the production of grain for a number of years, he turned his attention to horticultural pursuits, raising first peaches, but afterward engaging in the production of apples on an extensive scale.

John T. Vanderveer spent the days of his boyhood and youth under the parental roof, acquired a public school education and remained at home until twenty-six years of age. In February, 1877, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary R. Spencer, a daughter of Charles A. Spencer, now of Benton township. She was born in Bainbridge township and by her marriage has become the mother of five children. Roy married Myrtle Lee and operates the home farm for his father. Percy, the second son, died at the age of seventeen years. Bertha, Bessie and Nancy are at home. Bertha and Nancy have both engaged successfully in teaching school. Bertha taught in the home district and for years was a capable teacher in Van Buren county. Nancy is now teaching in the Pearl Grange school in Benton township and both are graduates of the state normal school. Bessie is now pursuing a business course.

Throughout his entire life Mr. Vanderveer has been connected with agricultural pursuits and his farm is a valuable property on the north line of Berrien county. His son carries on the active work of the farm and Mr. Vanderveer handles agricultural implements and fertilizers. As stated, he purchased the property in 1877, paying for it thirty-two hundred dollars. The saw timber had been cut off and he began to clear and cultivate the place, all of which is now under cultivation with the exception of about eighteen acres. He gives his attention to general farming and fruit raising, having about twenty acres in fruit, one-half of which is planted to peaches. The soil is rich and productive and he has wheat fields and meadow lands. He also keeps twelve cows and makes butter, selling to the stores on yearly contracts. He likewise has five or six horses. His attention has been given to his farm and business interests,, in which he has met with excellent success. Mr. Vanderveer is independent in his political views. He has served as treasurer of his township, was also supervisor for four consecutive years, has been assessor and in all of the different positions has discharged his duties with promptness and fidelity. He does not consider himself bound by party ties at local elections, but where national issues are involved usually votes with the Democracy. He finds his chief source of pleasure and recreation in hunting and with his brothers, William N. and Ernest Vanderveer, and other residents of the county, known as the Vanderveer crowd, goes each year on a hunting expedition to the northern peninsula of Michigan to hunt deer. He now has very fine trophies of the chase and has one fine deer head mounted and on exhibition. He is an excellent shot and he greatly enjoys the outdoor life as well as the hunting.

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

WILLIAM N. VANDERVEER, who won a medal at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition at St. Louis for an exhibit of apples, is recognized as one of the foremost fruit raisers of Benton township and Berrien county, carrying on his business along modern scientific lines and through practical means and measures.

His father, James Vanderveer, was born in Montgomery county, New York, and was descended from Holland ancestors, who were among the old Knickerbocker families of the Empire state. About 1848, he came alone to Michigan, although but a boy, and made his way to Battle Creek, where later he was connected with the hardware trade for five years. During his residence there he was married to Miss Nancy C. Young, also a native of the Empire state, the wedding being celebrated about 1850. He was very prosperous for some time in the conduct of his mercantile interests in Battle Creek and carried a stock valued at forty thousand dollars, but when in New York city buying goods for his store it was destroyed by fire and the insurance company refused to pay him a cent of insurance be:- cause of a flaw in the policy. He then came to Benton township, Berrien county, and purchaser a small farm of eighty acres, formerly the John Downing property. This is an old landmark on the county and in the early days was known as the Sterling Howard farm. James Vanderveer at once began the cultivation and improvement of the property, devoting his attention in the earlier years to the raising of grain and later to the production of apples. He also owned other farms, operating three or four farms himself, having land near Coloma as well as in Benton township. He was indeed an earnest and indefatigable worker and good business man and in his farming operations he prospered, becoming quite successful and accumulating an estate greater than that which he lost in Battle Creek. During his last years he lived retired. He continued a resident of Berrien county for about forty years and was respected for what he accomplished and by reason of his genuine personal worth. He was a man of marked individuality and force of character and though the fire and its consequent loss was enough to discourage a man of much resolution of spirit he nevertheless in determined manner set to work to retrieve his loss and built up a good estate for his family. He died May 5, 1901, respected and honored by all who knew him and his widow still survives, now making her home with her son, William N. In their family were eight children, four of whom reached mature years, namely: John, William N., Ernest and Elizabeth, the last named being the wife of John Downing. The father was a Republican and held minor offices. He took a deep interest in the success and growth of his party and delighted in the progress made by the county along all lines of substantial and permanent improvement. He was very practical in all of his methods and far sighted and sagacious in his business affairs. He made excellent improvements upon the home property and after devoting his attention to the production of grain for a number of years he turned his attention to horticultural pursuits, raising first peaches but afterward engaging in the production of apples on an extensive scale.

William N. Vanderveer was born upon the old family homestead, April 19, 1861, and remained under the parental roof until he had attained his majority, attending the Benton Harbor high school and also the Valparaiso Normal College, where he pursued a commercial course and bookkeeping. He worked with his father and made the present improvements on eighty acres of land. This is his present home place, on which is a fine orchard. He has about twenty acres in fruit, fifteen acres being planted to peaches and in his horticultural pursuits he has met with satisfactory results. He sold one thousand barrels of apples in one year and in the year 1905 sold sixteen hundred bushels of peaches. He also grows melons, and the products of his place find a ready sale on the market because of size, quality and flavor. He has erected upon his farm fine buildings including a very commodious and comfortable residence, substantial barns and outbuildings., for the shelter of grain, fruit and stock. No higher testimonial of his fine fruit could be given than the fact that he won a bronze medal of award for a display of apples at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition at St. Louis in 1904.

On the 6th of June, 1888, Mr. Vanderveer was married to Miss Fannie M. Baker,

.542 a daughter of Jabez Baker, formerly of Coloma and a native of Adrian, Michigan. Unto them were born three daughters and one son, but Florence died at the age af fifteen years. The others are Ruth, Edith and John. Mr. Vanderveer votes with the Democracy and is in thorough sympathy with the principles of the party, but takes no active interest in political work, concentrating his energies upon his business affairs, which are bringing him a gratifying measure of success. He has always lived in this county and is widely known. In his dealings he is found thoroughly reliable and his perservance and energy constitute elements in his life record well worthy of emulation.

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

ERNEST VANDERVEER, one of the energetic and successful farmers of Berrien county, owns an excellent property constituting a very fine farm. It is improved with good buildings and in its midst stands an attractive country residence. The principal industry of this county is fruit raising and to this business Mr. Vanderveer gives his attention. He was born on the old family homestead in Benton township. May 24, 1865, his parents being James and

Nancy C. (Young) Vanderveer, who were married in Battle Creek, Michigan, about 1850. He is a representative of one of the old Knickerbocker families of New York, his ancestors having come from Holland to America in colonial days. James Vanderveer, the father, was born in Montgomery county. New York, and about 1848 made his way westward to Battle Creek, Michigan, being then a lad with no capital but possessing strong purpose and an earnest determination to win success. In the course of a few years he found it possible to engage in business on his own account and for five years he was connected with the hardware trade in Battle Creek, carrying a large and carefully selected stock valued at forty thousand dollars. On one occasion he went to New York city to buy goods and while there his store was destroyed by fire and because of a flaw in the policy the insurance company refused to pay him his insurance and the loss therefore was very heavy. Being forced to begin life anew, Mr. Vanderveer than came to Berrien county and purchased a small farm of one hundred and twenty acres, formerly the Sterling Howard property. He at once began to clear and cultivate the fields and in the course of time was gathering good harvests. After raising grain for some time he began raising peaches and later turned his attention to the cultivation of apples, carrying on that business on an extensive scale. Although he was in debt when he came to this county he regained more than he had lost in Battle Creek and not only discharged all indebtedness but became the owner of very valuable property interests. In addition to his home place he owned three or four other farms, which were operated under his immediate supervision. He voted with the Republican party, but the extent and importance of his business interests left him little time for political work, although he served in several minor offices. His death occurred May 5, 1901, and his widow is now living with her son, William N. Of their eight children only four are living: John; William N., who is represented elsewhere in this work; Ernest, of this review; and Elizabeth, the wife of John Downing.

Ernest Vanderveer was reared upon the old family homestead in Benton township and early gained practical experience concerning the work of the fields and of the orchards. His early educational privileges, afforded by the common schools, were supplemented by one year's study in the Northern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso and he afterward engaged in teaching for four years in Bainbridge and Benton townships, spending two years of that time in the home district.

On the I St of January, 1889, Mr. Vanderveer was united in marriage to Miss Ethel Barrett, of Benton township, a daughter of G. W. Barrett, now of Benton Harbor. For a year after his marriage Mr. Vanderveer continued teaching and then lived upon his father's farm, and later gave supervision to his present farm and one at Grange Hall. He removed to his present place of residence in 1895, this being just across the road from the farm owned and occupied by his brother, W. N. Vanderveer. He has put all of the improvements upon the property and has cleared about one half of the sixty acres. He grows fruit, having twenty acres planted to orchards, twelve acres being in peaches and in 1905 he sold twenty-five hundred bushels from his place.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Vanderveer has been born one son, James G. Mr. Vanderveer belongs to Pearl Grange, in which he has passed all of the chairs and is the present secretary. He is also affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America. His life is actuated by a spirit of enterprise and strong determination and his painstaking and progressive methods are manifest in the excellent appearance of his farm. Each year after the season's crops are upon the market he with several others goes to the northern peninsula on a hunting expedition and thus he finds rest and recreation after the labors of the year.

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