Benjamin F. Butzbach

As printed in 1906

BENJAMIN F. BUTZBACH, of the Battlement Drug Company of Benton Harbor, was born in Bainbridge township, Berrien county in 1871. He is classed with the wide-awake and enterprising young business men of the city and has attained to a position of prestige in commercial circles through his own unaided efforts. As the name indicates, he is of German lineage. His father, Philip H. Butzbach, was born in Germany in 1828 and came to America when twenty years of age. He was a son of Henry Butzbach, who crossed the Atlantic after the emigration of his son Philip, and spent his last days in Bainbridge township, Berrien county, upon the old homestead farm, where he died when more than seventy years of age. Philip H. Butzbach settled in Bainbridge township, where he took up a tract of government land, comprising one hundred and eight acres, which was entirely wild and unimproved. This was during the pioneer epoch in the history of the county and like his neighbors he performed the arduous task of clearing and cultivating new land. He placed most of that property under the plow and he now has a fine fruit orchard of twenty acres, raising all kinds of fruit including apples and peaches, which he ships in large quantities. He planted the orchard himself and it is now in excellent bearing condition. His fields, too, are productive, yielding good crops and he is still accounted one of the successful farmers of this county, in which he has made his home for almost six decades. Great changes have occurred during this period by reason of the building of the railroads, the introduction of the telegraph and telephone and also of improved machinery which facilitates the work in various departments of business life. He married Miss Blondine Harmon, a native of Germany, who came from the fatherland and settled in Bainbridge township, Berrien county, in pioneer times. Mrs. Butzbach is still living and has for many years traveled life's journey wath her husband. They have reared a family of thirteen children, of whom two have passed away. Those who yet survive are Jacob; Elizabeth, the wife of Jacob Friday; Henry; Louise, the wife of Charles Christian; George; Lydia, the wife of Peter Christian, and a brother of her sister's husband; Philip H.; Anna, the wife of E. L. Miller; Mary, the wife of George Morlock; Benjamin F.; and Albert.

Benjamin F. Butzbach is the tenth in order of birth of the surviving members of the father's family. He was reared upon the old homestead and one can picture him as a farmer boy attending the district schools, interested in his lessons and equally interested in the games of the playground. In the summer months as he grew in strength and age his time was demanded for the service of the fields. His early educational privileges were supplemented by study in Benton Harbor College, of which he is a graduate of the class of 1891. His taste was for a commercial rather than an agricultural career and following the completion of his college course he accepted a clerkship in the drug store of George M. Bell & Company. No higher testimonial of his active service and faithfulness to duty could be given than the statement of the fact that he remained in the employ of that firm for eleven years, leaving it to engage in business on his own account, when, in 1902 he purchased an interest in the Battlement Drug Company of Benton Harbor and became manager of the store, which he has since successfully conducted. He has made his place of business an attractive one to the general public by reason of the neat and tasteful appearance of the store, his straightforward business dealings, his earnest desire to please and his uniform courtesy to his patrons.

In 1902, in Benton Harbor, occurred the marriage of Mr. Butzbach and Miss Ada Whitely, of Muskegon, Michigan. They are well known in the social circles of the city and the number of their friends is constantly increasing as the number of their acquaintances grow. In his political views Mr. Butzbach is a Republican but without aspiration for office. Matters of local progress, however, are of deep interest to him and he is never remiss in the faithful performance of the duties of citizenship.

As printed in A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan (1906). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.