Henry A. Feather

As printed in 1906

HENRY A. FEATHER. Among the representatives of farming interests in Oronoko township, who are successfully conducting their business interests, is numbered Henry A. Feather, who now resides on section 7. It was upon this place, known as Tair View Farm," that he was born April 26, 1854, his parents being John H. and Lucy Ann (Bachtel) Feather. The father was a native of Pennsylvania, and when eight years of age came to Berrien county, Michigan, with his parents, Joshua and Mary (Smith) Feather, who in pioneer times cast in their lot with the early settlers of Oronoko township, taking up their above upon a farm which adjoins the place that is now the home of our subject. There John H. Feather was reared and was trained to habits of industry and economy whereby he gained a good knowledge of farm life and was qualified for practical duties along those lines in later years. He was married in Oronoko township to Miss Lucy Ann Bachtel, also a native of Pennsylvania, whence she was brought to Berrien county by her parents when fifteen years of age. The young couple began their domestic life upon the farm where our subject now lives and there the father carried on general farming and also engaged in the agricultural implement business in his later days. He sold all kinds of farm machinery and buggies and was very successful in his mercantile venture. His life was a busy, useful and active one and he lived to the age of sixty-nine years, being widely and favorably known in the county in which the greater part of his youth and manhood were passed, and with the early history of which he was closely and helpfully associated. His wife lived to be only about forty-five or forty-six years of age. In their family were eight children, five of whom are now living. After losing his first wife the father married again and by the second union there were three children, of whom two survive. At the time of the father's death the following memoir was inserted in one of the local papers: John Henry Feather, who lacked but one day of being sixty-nine years old and who had been a resident of this township for nearly or quite sixty years, died at his residence near Hinchman Monday forenoon. He was a member of the Pennsylvania colony,' that has furnished so many good citizens to this vicinity, and one of the pioneers. He was one of the men who embarked in fruit growing at an early day and he stuck to it and had been successful. As a result he is supposed to have accumulated a fine estate. How large that may be is not known but enough is in sight to be a fair reward for a life's work. He was a man held in high respect for his sterling integrity and by his industry and enterprise he showed to others a good example.

"He was twice married and at his death left a widow and eight children. Two children had preceded him to the grave. His three sons, Andrew, Rufus and William, are all living in this vicinity and two daughters, Mary and Harriet, live at home. iVnnie and Lina married two brothers, French, and one of them lives in Buchanan, the other near the old home. His daughter Julia married a Mr. Blish and lives at Niles. Two brothers, Joshua and Daniel T. Feather, survive and they live not far from the ground their parents first occupied on their arrival in this country.

''Mr. Feather was prominent in business matters and had been a man of very considerable influence in the affairs of this community until recently. His health had not been good for three or four years but had not been so poor as to prevent his attending to his business until within a year. His visits to tow'U within that time have been very rare and his old friends have regretted to see how ill he looked and that he was nearing the end of his active and useful life."

Henry A. Feather is the third child of the first marriage and was reared upon the old homestead place, while in the district schools of Oronoko township he acquired his education. Remaining at home he assisted in the farm work, receiving ample training in the labors of the fields. His educational privileges, however, were somewhat limited, for he attended school only every other winter, alternating with his brother. He worked for his father to the age of twenty-six years and was then married and left home in order to establish a home of his own.

In 1880 Mr. Feather was united in marriage to Miss Mary Elizabeth Hinish, who was born in Oronoko township, a daughter of David and Elizabeth (Fryman) Hinish, who were old settlers of Berrien county. Immediately following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Feather located on a farm where he now resides and here he has since lived. In 1885, how'Cver, he was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife. In their family were two children, Milton H. and one who died in infancy. For his second wife Mr. Feather those Jessie L. Gleason, who died five years later, and in August, 1902, he wedded Mrs. Millie H. Small, the widow of E. L. Small. Mrs. Feather was born in Kosciusko county, Indiana, June 13, 1859, and is a daughter of John H. and Mary (Wyman) Shaffer. There were three sons and six daughters in the family, and six are living. Her father was born in Germany in 1818, and died in 1893. He was a lad of seven years when he landed in America. By occupation he was a farmer. He received his education in the common schools, and was married in Ohio. Politically he was a Republican, and was a member of the Evangelical Church. He died in Elkhart county, Indiana. Mother Shaffer was born in Ohio in 1826, and died in 1867. She was also a devout followed of the Evangelical faith. Mrs. H. A. Feather was educated in the common schools, and when she had reached years of maturity wedded Edward Small in 1884, and two sons and one daughter graced the union, and all are living: Fannie received a common school education and was then a student in the Berrien Springs high school and the Hinchman high school. She is quite proficient in instrumental music. She is a member of the Royal Neighbors of Hinchman, Michigan, and is receiver of that order. Frank A. Small completed the vIO common school course and is now a student in the Hinchman high school and will graduate in the class of 1907. His choice of professions is that of electrical engineer. Wyman H., the youngest, is in the seventh grade of the public schools. Mrs. Feather is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and was one of the teachers for some years in the Sunday-school, She is a member of Hive No. 189 of the L. O. T. M. at Berrien Springs, and is also a member of the Royal Neighbors, being vice oracle of this order. Mr. and Mrs. Feather have one of the parchment deeds executed February 1, 1849, under the hand and seal of President James K. Polk. Mr. Feather is a numismatist, and has some of the 1857 pennies, the 1865 two-cent pieces, and a Danish coin dated 1771, also other coins of 1832, 1852 and 1856, two gold coins of one dollar dated 1862, a two and one-half dollar piece dated 1836, and two of the fractional currency during the Civil war. Mr. and Mrs. Feather have their beautiful country home, known as the ''Fair View Fruit Farm," lighted by one of the most complete acetylene plants in the county. The lawns are even lighted by this magnificent light. It makes a country home metropolitan and city-like. This modern equipment of their pretty home will cause others who are up-to-date farmers to introduce new and modern ideas. Mrs. Feather is a model hostess, and she graces her pretty home in such a cordial manner as to win the high admiration of her many friends.

Mr. Feather has a farm of two hundred and forty acres of well improved land and is carrying on general agricultural pursuits, while about forty acres of his place is planted to fruit. In addition to his general farming interests he has also engaged in the coal business at Hinchman and holds mining interests and also property at other places, including Rapid City, South Dakota. He has interests in oil lands and in other profitable investments and his interests are now varied and extensive. He has been a lifelong resident of Berrien county, where he is well and favorably known. At local elections he votes for the candidate regardless of party affiliations and at national elections he cases a ballot for the Republican candidates. He has held some school offices and is a prominent and active member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He has been president of the Sunday-school Association of his township and superintendent of the Sunday-school at Hinchman for several years, and his efforts have been effective and far-reaching for the benefit of the church. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Royal Neighbors, and was counsel in the Modern Woodmen camp. His life has indeed been a busy and useful one and whatever he has undertaken he has carried forward to successful completion. He and his cousin, John H. Feather, are sole proprietors of the Feather Company telephone line, extending through the townships of Oronoko and Lake with offices at Hinchman and Baroda. He has ever displayed a most progressive spirit, which is manifest in his business interests and his connection with public life and the value of his services is widely acknowledged by his fellow townsmen who recognize him as one of the representative citizens of the community.

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.