My Genealogy Hound

JARED HOADLEY. Located in the midst one of the finest agricultural centres of Berrien County, the farm which Mr. Hoadley owns and occupies is conceded to be among the best in the vicinity, and this is saying not a little, for on every hand may be seen superior places, whose ownership indicates thrift and prosperity. His farming operations are conducted in a manner indicative of a progressive, thorough agriculturist, and the same systematic condition of affairs about his home is apparent in his course as a man. Thorough in all that he does, he allows no worthy movement to drag for want of support if in his power to help it.

Mr. Hoadley was originally from the Empire State, born in Manlius, Onondaga County, September 11, 1817, to the union of J. and Lucy (Williams) Hoadley, natives of Bennington County, Vt., and Massachusetts respectively. His grandfather, J. Hoadley, Sr., was of English descent, as was also the maternal grandfather. The parents of our subject were married in Onondaga County, N. Y., and there in connection with farming the father followed the carpenter’s and joiner’s trade. The mother died in that State and the father afterwards moved to Sandusky, Ohio, and there followed farming. They were the parents of three children, two daughters and a son, all of whom grew to manhood and womanhood.

From about the age of ten years our subject had to fight life’s battles for himself, and although he never attended school more than a year in his life, he was studious and observing and taught school many years, he is truly a self-made man, and what he has accumulated in the way of this world’s goods is the result of great energy and industry on his part. When seventeen years of age he took charge of a mercantile establishment and remained with this concern for three years, or until the owner sold out. In 1838 he came West to Michigan and stopped in Niles, where he expected to find employment. Later he took a school and taught in the county for some time, but subsequently embarked in the grain business, which he continued in Niles for three years. After this he clerked in a store for five years, and was then in the Farmers’ & Merchants’ Bank for some time.

He was engaged in business in Elkhart, Ind., for a few years, but sold out and in 1853 came to Berrien County, Mich., and located on the farm where he now resides and which he had purchased in 1851. His first marriage was to Miss Zeviah Willard, the daughter of Rufus Willard, who was an early settler of Berrien County, Mich. She died leaving one child, but the child died shortly afterwards. Mr. Hoadley’s second marriage was to Miss Anna Hoagland, and by this union he became the father of three children. Rodney Paine, a natural musician and a genius in many ways, followed teaching for some time but is now engaged in farming. He is married and has two children. Katta, wife of Chris Brandes, who is cashier of a bank in Wisconsin, taught school when she was fourteen years of age, and is a lady of more than ordinary ability. Anna, deceased, was the wife of Mr. Cooper, a lawyer of Niles.

Our subject’s third marriage was to Miss Susan Ashcraft, who bore him three children, two daughters and a son. The son, whose name is Willard, is at home and is a good business man; Mary will graduate from the Niles schools soon; and Clara L. is attending the schools in Niles. Mr. Hoadley has a good farm of one hundred and sixty-three acres on section 28, Niles Township, and most of the improvements on the same have been made by him. Although he came to Michigan without money, he has been a successful man in all the occupations in which he engaged, and is now one of the substantial men of this vicinity. In politics, he adheres to the principles of the Republican party, but has never cared to hold office. His son Willard is Treasurer of Niles Township, and Rodney holds the same position in Chikaming Township, Berrien County. Mr. Hoadley was at one time a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, but is not now.