My Genealogy Hound

CALVIN M. EDICK, President of the Excelsior Gas Company at Benton Harbor, and one of the prosperous business men of this city, was born in Athens, Tenn., on the 30th of November, 1849, being the son of Samuel and Sarah (Carter) Edick, natives of New York State. His father, shortly after his marriage in the Empire State, removed to Tennessee to take charge of an iron furnace at Athens, and resided in that place for five years, when he died. At the time of his demise he was in the prime of life, with every promise of a successful and prosperous business career, and his untimely death was mourned not only by his immediate relatives, but also by his large circle of acquaintances. His wife survived him many years and passed away in Michigan, in October, 1878.

The eldest of a family of four children, the subject of this biography accompanied his half-brother to southern Illinois in his childhood, and resided in McLeansborough until he was fifteen years old, meanwhile enjoying excellent educational advantages in the schools of that place. At the age of fifteen he became a clerk in the general store of A. P. Gardner, at Albion, Mich., and remained in that position for a number of years. The year 1871 witnessed his arrival in Benton Harbor, where he occupied a clerical position in the employ of Brunson & Johnson. Later he clerked in the hardware store of Platt Bros., of St. Joseph, for two years, after which he was employed by that firm to take charge of a branch store in Benton Harbor, conducting that establishment for five years.

In the meantime Mr. Edick became interested in the Alden Evaporating and Canning Company, of which he was Secretary and Treasurer for ten years, or until the factory burned down. He then purchased the interests of the other stockholders, and, re-organizing the enterprise under the name of the Alden Canning Company, has continued its manager until the present time. It is largely through his efforts that the concern has acquired a prominent position among the industries of Berrien County. In 1881, he embarked in the hardware business, associating himself with A. Vincent, under the firm name of Edick & Vincent. Eighteen months later the firm name was changed to Edick & Platt, and under that title the business was conducted about two years, when our subject purchased Mr. Platt’s interest and has since conducted the enterprise under the title of C. M. Edick.

The hardware establishment is complete in all its appointments. The store is 25x125 feet in dimensions, and there is also an annex, 25x80 feet. The stock includes a complete assortment of shelf hardware, paints, oils and farming machinery, and the uniformly accurate methods upon which the business is conducted have secured for the proprietor a large and steadily growing trade. Mr. Edick is also a stockholder and Director in the First National Bank of Benton Harbor. What he has and what he is may be attributed to his own arduous exertions, for when he commenced in business he had no money capital or influential friends, but by perseverance and good judgment he has become well-to-do.

While Mr. Edick is not a partisan nor radical in his political preferences, he gives his influence to the Republican party and favors its candidates with his ballot. In his social connections, he is identified with the Masonic fraternity, being a member of Lake Shore Lodge No. 298. He was married December 6, 1882, to Miss Mary F. Baley, who at that time was residing in Benton Harbor, but is a native of New York. In social circles Mr. and Mrs. Edick occupy a prominent position, being numbered among the influential and popular residents of Benton Harbor.