William N. Vanderveer

As printed in 1906

WILLIAM N. VANDERVEER, who won a medal at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition at St. Louis for an exhibit of apples, is recognized as one of the foremost fruit raisers of Benton township and Berrien county, carrying on his business along modern scientific lines and through practical means and measures.

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 be:- cause of a flaw in the policy. He then came to Benton township, Berrien county, and purchaser a small farm of eighty acres, formerly the John Downing property. This is an old landmark on the county and in the early days was known as the Sterling 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 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 built 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 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.

William N. Vanderveer was born upon the old family homestead, April 19, 1861, and remained under the parental roof until he had attained his majority, attending the Benton Harbor high school and also the Valparaiso Normal College, where he pursued a commercial course and bookkeeping. He worked with his father and made the present improvements on eighty acres of land. This is his present home place, on which is a fine orchard. He has about twenty acres in fruit, fifteen acres being planted to peaches and in his horticultural pursuits he has met with satisfactory results. He sold one thousand barrels of apples in one year and in the year 1905 sold sixteen hundred bushels of peaches. He also grows melons, and the products of his place find a ready sale on the market because of size, quality and flavor. He has erected upon his farm fine buildings including a very commodious and comfortable residence, substantial barns and outbuildings., for the shelter of grain, fruit and stock. No higher testimonial of his fine fruit could be given than the fact that he won a bronze medal of award for a display of apples at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition at St. Louis in 1904.

On the 6th of June, 1888, Mr. Vanderveer was married to Miss Fannie M. Baker,

.542 a daughter of Jabez Baker, formerly of Coloma and a native of Adrian, Michigan. Unto them were born three daughters and one son, but Florence died at the age af fifteen years. The others are Ruth, Edith and John. Mr. Vanderveer votes with the Democracy and is in thorough sympathy with the principles of the party, but takes no active interest in political work, concentrating his energies upon his business affairs, which are bringing him a gratifying measure of success. He has always lived in this county and is widely known. In his dealings he is found thoroughly reliable and his perservance and energy constitute elements in his life record well worthy of emulation.

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.