Elden C. Harner

As printed in 1906

ELDEN C. HARNER, who since 1902 has been engaged in the real estate and insurance business in Benton Harbor with growing success that has already made him a leading representative of this line of activity, was born near Berrien Springs, Michigan, in 1881. He is a son of Augustus A. Harner and a grandson of Michael Harner, The latter was a native of Pennsylvania and came to Michigan in 1837, when this part of the state was a wild and unimproved district. He secured from the government a large tract of land of six hundred acres in Berrien township, which at that time was all covered with dense timber. No roads had been laid out and there were only Indian trails to guide the traveler or settler as he made his way through the forests or across the prairies. Mr. Harner cleared the greater part of his land and thus contributed in substantial measure to the subjugation of the wild district and its reclamation for the purposes of civilization. He was one of the earliest settlers of the county and has left the impress of his individuality for good upon the work of public improvement.

Augustus A. Harner, father of our subject, was born upon the old family homestead which was developed by his father west of Berrien Springs. He assisted in the work of the fields there, performing much of the arduous labor incident to the improvement of a new farm. Having arrived at years of maturity he married Miss Charlotte Van Patten, whose birth occurred upon a farm west of Berrien Springs in Berrien township, her father being Aaron Van Patten, who was one of the first settlers of that locality. He came to the west from New York and cleared a large tract of land, so that he, too, was an important factor in general progress here. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Augustus A. Harner were born two children, the eldest being Edna, now the wife of Carl Pennell, of Berrien Springs, by whom she has one child, Letha.

Elden C. Harner, the only son of the family, acquired a district-school education and afterward continued his studies in the Berrien Springs high school, from which he was graduated. He next became a student in the state normal school at Ypsilanti, where he completed his course by graduation in 1900. He then taught in the Benton Harbor high school for a year after which he engaged in the real estate and insurance business, opening an office in I90'2. Here he has built up a good clientage and has thoroughly informed himself concerning realty values, so that he is qualified to bring to his patrons a knowledge of property which they desire, or to effect sales where one wishes to dispose of realty.

Mr. Harner was married in 1902 to Miss Mary Comstock of Ypsilanti, a daughter of Charles Comstock of that city. They are prominent socially and the hospitality of many of the best homes of Benton Harbor is freely accorded them. In politics Mr. Harner is a Democrat, and is now serving as a member of the county board of school examiners. He is a young man of strong intellectual force and of acquired ability, ambitious and energetic, and his laudable determination to win success has been one of the salient and commendable features in his business career.

FRANK D. CONGER has been connected at various times with varied interests of Benton Harbor and is now a factor in the financial affairs and successful management of the Hopper Stationery Company. His life is a living illustration of what ability, energy and force of character can accomplish and his city and state have been enriched by his example, for it is to such men that the west owes its prosperity, its rapid progress and advancement. Benton Harbor has certainly profited by his efforts here, for he belongs to that class of representative American men who, while advancing individual interests also promote in large measure the public good.

A native of the middle west, his birth occurred in Illinois in 1848, his parents being Lorentus and Mary (Hurd) Conger. He came from Illinois to Michigan thirty-seven years ago, and was married to Elia M. Riford the same year. He purchased here a fruit farm, part of which had belonged to his wife's father. He became owner of twelve acres, which was then situated in the country some distance from Benton Harbor, but with the growth of the city it has become the center of the town and upon this tract Mr. Conger has erected eight dwelling houses with all modern improvements. It is called Conger's addition and is one of the desirable residence portions of Benton Harbor. Mr. Conger also owns other real estate known as the Riford and Morton addition. At one time he sold his original farm, but later he purchased it again and made the improvements designed above. The Conger addition is located at the corner of Pipestone street and Vineyard avenue, and will always remain as a monument to the thrift and enterprise of the subject of this review. Mrs. Conger had charge of the building of these houses, drew the plans and superintended their construction. She is a lady of keen insight, excellent business ability and artistic taste.

Along many other lines Mr. Conger has contributed to the general welfare and upbuilding of Berrien county, being a man of resourceful business ability, whose efforts have touched many lines of activity. He was proprietor of the first exclusive shoe store in Benton Harbor and was engaged in the manufacture of boots. Later he entered the banking business and subsequently became connected with the Graham & Morton transportation enterprise, being for twenty years the confidential clerk with that company, He is now interested in the business of the Hopper Stationery Company, having a large plant in Benton Harbor. In fact this is one of the leading industries of the county, its payroll being perhaps the largest in the city. The company has many plants throughout the United States, but Mr. Conger is interested in only the one in Benton Harbor.

In 1869 occurred the marriage of Frank D. Conger and Miss Elia M. Riford, the wedding being celebrated in the first church ever built in the city, her father drawing the lumber for the construction of this house of worship. Her parents were Joseph and Mary (Burridge) Riford and the mother traces her ancestry back to royalty in Europe. Her father, Joseph Riford, was born near Montpelier, Vermont, in 18 10, and died in 1884 at th ag of seventy-four years. He removed from the Green Mountain state to Indiana and while living there represented his district in the state legislature. Thirtynine years ago he came to Benton Harbor, being one of the early settlers of this place. He was instrumental with others in securing the building of the canal and was one of the principle promoters of the city's progress and improvement, being interested in all plans for its development and substantial upbuilding. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Conger have been born three children, but only one is now living, Alta C, who has one child, Elia M. Conger.

Mr. Conger votes with the Republican party and at one time served *as city treasurer, but has never been a political in the sense of office seeking. He is a brother of the Hon. Edwin H. Conger, who has a national reputation. He has, however, never sought to figure prominently in public affairs, preferring to concentrate his energies upon local business interests and finding ample opportunity for the exercise of his talents in the duties of the work-a-day world. He is a self-made man in the fullest sense of that term, his prosperity in life being due to industry and integrity. In everything pertaining to the upbuilding of Benton Harbor he takes an active part and is a liberal contributor to the enterprises which insure its progress. The business policy which he has maintained has brought him prosperity. He is methodical and systematic and the plans which he has pursued commend themselves to the judgment and respect of all.

STEPHEN V. BURDICK has had an eventful career fraught with many interesting incidents because of his early operations in lumber pursuits and his trip to California in search of gold soon after the discovery of the precious metal on the Pacific coast. He is now occupying a pleasant home in Hagar township, Berrien county, and has passed the age of seventy-nine years. He was born at Sumherhill, Cayuga county, New York, on the 1 8th of July, 1827. His father, Daniel Bur dick, was a descendant of one of the passengers on the Mayflower and the family had its origin in Wales. Representatives of the name settled in Cayuga county soon after the Revolutionary war, although Daniel Burdick was born in Vermont. He was reared, however, in the Empire state, and was married to Miss Charlotte Steward. Daniel Burdick followed the occupation of farming as a life work and upon the old homestead Stephen V. Burdick was reared to the age of eighteen years. He was a youth of ten summers when the parents removed to Lake county, Ohio, where he attended the academy. When eighteen years of age he started out in life on his own account, working by the month. He made his way to the pine woods of Wisconsin, and acted as cook in a lumber camp in the pineries. When twenty-one years of age he returned home and in the meantime had saved from his earnings sufficient capital to enable him to make a start in business life. With this he went to Van Buren county, Michigan, in 1848, and purchased a tract of wild land near Decatur. He took his parents with him and made a home for them on his place. There he carried on farming until 1850, when, attracted by the gold excitement on the Pacific coast, he went to California, where he spent one summer, taking his outfit from home. On the trip, while at Fort Laramie, he had his team stolen and with only his trunk left he worked his passage as far as Salt Lake City. There he left his employer and secured work in that city for a short time, being employed in a blacksmith shop, where he cut bolts for Brigham Young's carriage. He had known Young at Kirkland, Ohio, and had attended school with some of his children and on reaching Salt Lake Ci'ty he renewed his acquaintance with the Mormon leader. While there he met Jim Blair, of Ohio, and helped him to drive his ox team to California, paying him one hundred and fifty dollars to carry him through to Placerville, California. While five men of the party were on guard about a mile and a half from camp taking care of the cattle, they were attacked by twenty-five Indians, who succeeded in securing thirteen head of cattle. They were running them off to the mountains when the five men started in pursuit and a fight occurred, and after the original five were reinforced by other officers from the camp they killed or drove off the Indians and recovered the stock. Mr. Burdick; however, was wounded with an arrow in the side, a wound that troubled him for two years.

The company with which he traveled was made up of thirteen Irish and twelve Americans. As soon as the Irish could get liquor a fight was started among them. Mr.

Blair, was in command of the party, and Mr. Burdick attempting to part two of the combatants one by one the others of the party were ah drawn into the quarrel until the entire number became mixed up in it. The Americans, however, drew their revolvers and the Irish were thus scattered. As soon as the Irish gave up, peace was declared and the remainder of the trip was resumed without further incident of this character.

Mr. Burdick remained for six years in California. For a time he conducted a bakery at Volcano, and during the remainder of the time was engaged in mining and prospecting. He met with success until the mountain fever disabled him but he returned with more than average results. On the return trip he rode a mule across the plains. This was in the summer of 1856, and he made his way to his farm in Van Buren county, Michigan.

On the 8th of April, 1857, Mr. Burdick was married in that county to Miss Philena M. Tucker, who was born in Dryden, Lapeer county, Michigan, and when two years of age was taken by her parents to Van Buren county. Her father was a wood contractor on the Michigan Central Railroad, located at Decatur.

Mr. Burdick remained for six years in his farm and then returned to California in 1862, making the trip for the improvement of his health. He spent four years on the coast, his wife joining him there in 1863. He was engaged in mining, as before, with fair success, and in 1866 he again came to Michigan, locating once more upon his old farm in Van Buren county. There he continued to reside for four years, when he sold out. His mother had died in 1858, and his father passed away in 1872, dying near Coloma, in Berrien county.

In 1870 Mr. Burdick of this review had removed to his present farm in Hagar township. The timber had been cut off, but he had to clear the place of stumps and he began farming upon forty acres of new land. He has since devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits and he now owns one hundred acres of rich and productive land, his home being on the original tract.

His first house was a plank structure and the present dwelling was erected about twenty years ago. It stands in a fine location and his entire farm is now under cultivation. He carries on general agricultural pursuits and to some extent raises fruit. He has laid about two hundred rods of tiling all on forty acres, about half of the tract having been formerly considered of no value, but today it is the best land he has. He paid as high as fifty dollars per acre, owing to the fruit prospects. He has done some lumbering by the job but the greater part of his time and energies have been devoted to general" agricultural pursuits during his residence in Michigan, and he has here valuable property interests. In politics he is a Republican but has never sought or desired ofhce, preferring to give his undivided attention to his business affairs.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Burdick have been born six children: May M., who is now the widow of J. Brown and lives in Aberdeen, Mississippi; Nettie, the wife of M. L. Brant, of Bainbridge township; Kate C, the wafe of Gaylord E. Frisbie, of Pearl Grange; Edward S., who is living in Hagar township; Lillie Belle, who is a twin sister of Edward and is with her sister in Aberdeen, Mississippi, doing fine needlework; and Harry A., who is upon the home farm. In her early womanhood Mrs. Burdick taught school in Van Buren county, and also followed that profession while residing in California, teaching in all for about six years. The eldest daughter fitted herself for teaching and for seventeen years followed that profession, being for three years connected with the schools of Benton Harbor, one year being spent as a teacher in the high school. She is a graduate of the State Normal School at Ypsilanti and holds a first grade life certificate.

The history of Mr. Burdick if written in detail would furnish many a thrilling chapter of unusual incidents and adventure, for he has experienced all the hardships of pioneer life and has moreover intimate knowledge of the experiences which came to the early seekers of gold in California as they made the long and arduous trips across the plains and over the mountains to the Pacific coast, and derved for the precious metal in the place mines of the Golden state. In more recent years his 'time has been devoted to farming and his labors have resulted in the acquirement of an excellent property from which he derives a good annual income.

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.