Juan Hess

As printed in 1906

JUAN HESS. At an early day Berrien county found its chief source of income in its lumber interests. Now one of its chief sources of wealth is its fruit farms, which are very productive and which supply to the Chicago markets and other large city markets vast amounts of fruit of finest quality. Numbered among the men who are successfully engaged in this business is Mr. Hess, who is living in Benton township. He is a native son of Michigan, his birth having occurred at Millburg on the 12th of May, 1850. His parents were George W. and Mary A. (Higbee) Hess, the latter a sister of James Higbee, now residing in Benton Harbor and represented elsewhere in this work. George W. Hess was born in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, but in early life removed to Ohio and in that state was married to Miss Higbee, who was born in New York. They came to Michigan in 1837, induced to take this step by her parents, who had previously located here. The journey westward was made by way of Chicago and thence in a covered wagon to St. Joseph. The county was then but sparsely settled and the work of development and progress seemed scarcely begun. What is now a rich and productive district between St. Joseph and Benton Harbor was then a marsh and as the family journeyed between the two points one of their horses lay down in the water. Mr. Hess lifted his wife and daughter, then a year old, upon the back of the other horse and waded out. He was a carpenter and joiner by trade and had served an apprenticeship of four years, so that he was a very capable workman. He secured land west of Millburg and established a little village, which was to be called Saratoga. This was before the town of Millburg had been founded. He afterward lived at Millburg and worked at his trade, becoming identified with building operations in that section of the county. He also aided in improving a seventy acre farm a half mile distant but lived in the village, spending his remaining days there. He reached the very advanced age of about eighty-eight years, surviving his wife for twenty-five years but always remaining true to her memory, so that he never married again. His old home in Millburg is the present home of his daughter and her husband. Dr. and Mrs. J. J. Wier, who are also mentioned on another page of this work, Dr. Wier being the capable physician of that place with a large practice indicative of his skill and ability in his profession.

In his political views George W. Hess was an old-school Democrat. He served as justice of the peace for a number of years and his decisions were strictly fair and impartial. He could speak German fluently and he did all the legal business for a large German settlement, gave advice as to local troubles and his counsel was often sought by his German friends, who followed his counsel rather than resorting to the law. He was elected to office on the Democratic ticket in a Republican township, which showed his popularity and the confidence reposed in him by his fellow townsmen. He was reared in the Lutheran faith, but his family afterward became identified with the Christian church. Mr. Hess was a very temperate man in all respects, not only in the use of intoxicants but in all things and his life was regulated by high principles and many conduct. He was neat in his appearance and it was said that he could work at logging and not soil his clothes. Clean in his life and in his thoughts, considerate in his opinions of others, charitable and kindly in spirit, just and honorable in his actions, he won the good will and trust of all with whom he was associated and was for many years one of the most respected and worthy residents of his part of the county. His family numbered twelve children, of whom one died in childhood, while eleven of the family are now living. The eldest is Mrs. Mary Babcock, who at the age of sixty-nine years is living upon a part of the old homestead farm. There are four sons and seven daughters, and of this number four daughters and one son are yet residents of Berrien county. The eldest son, William J., is living in California. Those who now reside in this county are Mrs. J. N. Babcock, Mrs. George Wright, Mrs. L. A. Hall, Mrs. G. H. Peters and Mrs. J. J. Wier.

The other member of the family living in Berrien county is Juan Hess of this review, who resided at home until twenty-four years of age and was reared to farm work. He is indebted to the public school system of the county for the educational privileges which he enjoyed and through the periods of vacation he worked in the fields, aiding in the early spring planting, in the care of the crops and in the gathering of the harvests. He was married at the age of twenty-four on the 29th of October, 1874, to Miss Dora Bishop, a daughter of J. K. Bishop, of Bainbridge, who lived a mile and a half from Millburg, so that the young people had grown up together. Her father died at Coloma, Michigan, in July, 1906, at the age of seventy-nine years. Mrs. Hess was born on the old homestead property in that township and there remained until seventeen years of age, when she gave her hand in marriage to our subject. In the fall of that year the young couple began their domestic life upon their present farm in Benton township. His father had owned the place for some years. It comprised eighty acres of land, about thirty acres being improved at the time that Mr. Hess purchased a fourth interest in the property. Later he bought the interest of his three brothers until he owned the entire tract of eighty acres. He has it now all under cultivation, about seventy acres being planted in trees. His orchards are splendidly improved. He has thirty-five acres planted to peaches, twenty-two to years and there are also a large number of cherry and apple trees. There is an apple orchard upon the place which has been in bearing for fifty years. The farm was originally enclosed with a rail fence and at each corner a each tree was planted and the fruit from these trees sold at a dollar per peck on the street in Benton Harbor. In 1905, Mr. Hess sold large quantities of fruit, the crops being excellent in that year. He has harvested a strawberry crop from eight acres netting one hundred dollars per acre. The results that have attended his labors as a horticulturist have been entirely satisfactory. He has studied fruit all his life and his opinions upon the subject are largely regarded as authority in this community. He has also grown some grain and stock and his farm is in every respect productive and valuable. He now has residence property in Benton Harbor and this in addition to his farm brings him a very good income.

In 1904 Mr. Hess was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died on the 15th of October of that year after a very short illness. They had traveled life's journey together for thirty years. She was devoted to her family and was a most estimable lady, who had indeed been a faithful companion and helpmate to her husband on life's journey. Unto them had been born four children, but two of the number died in childhood. Those still living are: Robert D., twenty-three years of age; and George K., now fourteen years of age. The former married Alice King of Benton Harbor and has one child. They reside upon the home farm with his father.

In his political views Mr. Hess is a Democrat and entertains broad and liberal views where local issues are involved, never considering himself bound by party ties. He frequently attends, however, the conventions of his party. He is a member of the Benton County Horticultural Society and belongs to the Knights of the Maccabees, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the MiUburg Christian church. In 1902 he erected his present home, which is a nice country residence, heated by furnace, well lighted, with good plumbing throughout. It is a modern residence in all of its appointments and is conveniently and pleasantly situated about four miles from Benton Harbor. He has been closely identified with horticultural interests in this county for many years and has done much to make this locality a fruit producing center. His connection with any undertaking insures a prosperous outcome of the same, for it is in his nature to carry forward to successful completion whatever he is associated with. He has earned for himself an enviable reputation as a careful man of business and in his dealings is known for his prompt and honorable methods, which have won him the deserved and unbounded confidence of his fellowmen.

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.