John T. Vanderveer

As printed in 1906

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 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.