Edwin Sharai

As printed in 1906

EDWIN SHARAI was born on section 22, Sodus township, Berrien county, on the farm which is still his home on the 13th of September, 1848. His father, Tanos Sharai, was a native of Canada, his birth having occurred near Toronto, and he came as a boy with his parents to Berrien county, the family home being established in Bainbridge township. The father of our subject purchased a farm on the bank of the St. Joe river, and there continued his home for twelve years, after which he removed to the farm where the son Edwin was born and where he has continued to make his home. Tanos Sharai was married to Miss Louisa Wheeler, a native of New York state, who came with her parents to this state at an early day, the family home being established in St. Joe, where her father, John Wheeler, was a lumberman, and was one of the pioneer settlers of Berrien county. Both parents are now deceased, the father having passed away at the age of seventy-four years, while the mother died at the age of sixty-nine years. Their family numbered five children and with the exception of one all are now living.

Edwin Sharai, whose name introduces this record, was the second child and second son of his father's family, and was reared and educated in his native township. He, however, started out at the early age of twelve years to earn his own living by working by the day and month at farm labor. During his youth he also learned the carpenter's trade and for sixteen years was connected with the building operations of this county. In 1864, at the time of the Civil war, his private business interests were interrupted, when, at the age of seventeen years, he enlisted for service, joining Company H, Twenty-fourth Michigan Volunteer Infantry as a private and he served until the close of hostilities, taking part in the battles of Weldon Road, Hatch's Run, Petersburg, and many other important engagements, and was honorably discharged at the close of hostilities, being mustered out at Detroit, in July, 1865.

Returning to his home in Sodus township, Mr. Sharai then resumed his work at the carpenter's trade for several years, meeting with good success in his work. In 1870 Mr. Sharai was united in marriage to Miss Jennie I. Welch, who died, leaving three children, Clara, Bert and Maude, and he afterward wedded Margaret Hanson, who was born in St. Joseph, Berrien county, a daughter of C. W. and Rachel (Henderson) Hanson. Her father was born in Silver Creek township, Cattaraugus county, New York, August 1, 1838, and was only a year old when brought to Berrien county, the family home being established in St. Joseph, where Mr. Hanson is still making his home. His family numbered eleven children, of whom Mrs. Sharai is the sixth in order of birth, and all were born in St. Joseph, this state.

In 1876 Mr. Sharai removed with his family to California, settling in the San Jose valley, where he remained for two years, working at the carpenter's trade. He then returned to Berrien county, where he continued his work in that line for several years, and in 1891 he and his wife made a second trip to the Pacific coast, remaining in the west for about six months. They made the return trip by team, camping along the way, the journey requiring four months and two days. He is now making his home on the old homestead property, situated on section 22, Sodus township, where he carries on general agricultural pursuits, and here he also entertains summer boarders.

He is a member of General H. Thomas Post, No. 14, G. A. R., at Benton Harbor, thus maintaining pleasant relations with his old army comrades. He is a stalwart Republican, giving active and helpful support to his party, and is interested in all that tends to promote the progress of his home locality. With the exception of about three years, a part of which time was spent on the Pacific coast, our subject has always resided in Berrien county, covering a period of almost six decades and he is well known in social and business circles. Although starting out at the early age of twelve years, dependent entirely upon his own resources for a living, he has worked his way steadily upward until he is today in possession of a valuable property and is numbered among the prominent and influential citizens of this part of the state.

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.