William J. Feather

As printed in 1906

WILLIAM J. FEATHER. Among those formerly closely associated with agricultural interests in Berrien county and now living retired in Berrien Springs, is numbered William J. Feather, who is a native son of Oronoko township. His life record began on the 21st of May, 1841. His father, Joseph Feather, was born at Selin's

Grove, Union county, Pennsylvania, where the family had been established at an early day and where the name was originally spelled Fetter. In the place of his nativity Joseph Feather was reared and educated and there he learned the trade of carpentering and cabinet-making. Thinking to enjoy better business opportunities in a pioneer district he made the journey on foot to Berrien county, Michigan, and took up land in Oronoko township. There he worked at his trade for a number of months and the following year returned to Pennsylvania. In the succeeding spring he came again to Michigan, bringing with him his sister, a yellow dog, a long gun, a cow, one horse and a wagon, reaching Berrien Springs about June, 1833. There he followed the dual occupation of cabinet-making and carpentering until his health failed, when he located on his land one mile west of Berrien Springs. There in the outdoor life his health improved and he continued the cultivation and development of his farm, lying on section 33, Berrien township, until old age. He was married in Berrien Springs to Miss Anna Freed, on the 3d of December, 1833. She was born in Union county, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Abram Freed, who was a prominent merchant of Philadelphia, and was of German descent. Mr. Feather passed away in his eighty-fourth year, while his wife died in her eighty-second year. They were among the worthy pioneer residents of Berrien county and were closely identified with its early history. They lived here when the Indians still visited the neighborhood and when only here and there had a log cabin been built and a little clearing made to show that the work of civilization had been begun. Much of the land was still in possession of the government and the timber had been cut on but few tracts. The family shared in all of the hardships and trials incident to pioneer life and as the years passed by succeeded in reclaiming a tract of land for the uses of civilization by transforming it from a timbered region into richly cultivated fields. In the family were seven children, four daughters and three sons. The eldest was Benjamin F. Feather, who was the first white male child born in Oronoko township, the date of his birth being October 10, 1834. The others of the family are: Mary E., born July 11, 1836; Lydia Ann, August 28, 1839; William Joseph, May 20, 1841; Harriet E., April 28, 1843; Reuben Perry, February 18, 1846; and Eliza Jane, June 26, 1 85 1. All are yet living but the eldest daughter, Mary, who died June 2.2 1868.

William J. Feather was reared amid the usual conditions and environments of pioneer life upon the old homestead farm in Oronoko township and attended school in Berrien Springs. During the periods of vacation his labor was a factor in the development and cultivation of the farm and he worked at home until twenty-seven years of age. He was then married and started out in life on his own account, settling upon a farm in Oronoko township, which he cultivated and improved. He converted the wild land into productive fields and continued in his farm labor until 1892, working persistently and energetically year after year. On putting aside the active cares of the farm he removed to Berrien Springs, where he is now living retired, and in 1904 he sold the old home property.

On the 24th of December, 1868, Mr. Feather was united in marriage to Miss Amelia Smith, a daughter of Charles and Clarinda (Brown) Smith. Her father was born in Marlboro, Ulster county, New York, and the mother in Locke, Cayuga county. New York. She died in the Empire state in 1856, while the father died in Berrien Springs in 1878. There were five children in their family, a son and four daughters, of whom Mrs. Feather was the third in order of birth. She was educated in the district schools of her native place and in the Friends Seminary, at Union Springs, New York. She taught in the Empire state and came to Berrien county in 1864, following the profession of teaching here. She devoted ten years altogether to that work, entering the schoolroom as a teacher at the age of sixteen. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Feather was celebrated in New York and they at once came to Berrien county and established their home upon a farm in Oronoko township. Unto them were born the following named: Merton K., a real-estate dealer in Elkhart, Indiana; and Gordon L., who died in 1877, at the age of two years and four months. They also had an adopted daughter, Fannie, who became the wife of C. H. Ireland, and died in 1904, at the age of twenty-six years.

Mr. Feather has been a life-long resident of Berrien county and an interested witness of the events which have established its history and formulated its policy. He has voted with the Republican party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise and has been connected officially with the schools of the village. He and his family are members of St. Paul's Lutheran church, in which he has served as deacon and trustee, while in all of the various church activities he takes a helpful part. Both he and his wife are members of the National Protective Legion of Waverly, New York, and in this county are widely known, while the esteem of an extensive circle of friends is freely accorded them. In his business affairs Mr. Feather has ever been found prompt and faithful, fully meeting every obligation that devolves upon him and never making an engagement that he has not filled. He is thus respected as a reliable citizen, one whose word is as good as his bond.

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.