My Genealogy Hound

HENRY MICHAEL, the subject of this sketch, is identified with various important interests in Dowagiac, being Justice of the Peace, Notary Public, Conveyancer, pension-claim agent and real-estate dealer. He was born on the 5th of December, 1827, at the home of his parents, eight miles south of Xenia, Greene County, Ohio. Of direct German descent, his grandfather, William Michael, was born and reared in Germany, and, emigrating to America, settled in Virginia during the latter part of the eighteenth century. From the Old Dominion he removed to Ohio and became one of the earliest settlers of Ross County.

Leaving the Buckeye State, this courageous pioneer penetrated the wilds of Michigan and entered a tract of land from the Government. This property was located in Berrien County, and through his efforts was placed under cultivation and embellished with good buildings. There Mr. Michael passed away some time in the ‘40s. A man of religious convictions, he labored zealously for the promotion of the Methodist Episcopal Church and was a generous contributor to its support. Coming to this State poor in purse, he attained the realization of his anticipations and became the possessor of a good property, the value of which has been greatly enhanced during late years.

A native of Virginia, Adam Michael, father of our subject, was one of ten children in the parental family. When fifteen years old he accompanied his father to Ohio, and grew to manhood in Ross County. There he married Miss Mary, daughter of Charles Murphy, a native of the old Dominion. After their marriage the young couple located in Greene County, but in 1830 removed thence to Michigan and settled in Howard Township, Cass County, where he remained about eighteen months. Coming to Berrien Township, Berrien County, he entered one hundred and sixty acres on section 21 and forty acres on section 22. There he remained until his demise, which occurred in August, 1838. His wife passed away in 1855.

There were nine children in their family: Matilda, wife of Silas Ireland, a farmer of Berrien Township, Berrien County; Mrs. Rebecca Reynolds, of Berrien Springs; our subject; Mrs. Mary E. Lyle, widow of Daniel Lyle, the banker of Dowagiac; Mrs. Ruhama Kibbler, who lives in Berrien County; Alfred E., a carpenter by trade and a lumberman of River Falls, Wis.; Eliza, who married and is now deceased; and Charles, a ranchman, who died in November, 1891. The father of this family was a blacksmith and followed that trade in connection with his farming work. He was called out in the war against the Indians in 1832 and aided in quelling the trouble. Every foot of ground in Berrien County was familiar to him and when people came here on prospecting tours he was able to point out to them the most desirable locations. As a pedestrian he was quick and tireless. It is related of him that at one time his brother had come here from Ohio and selected a tract of land, after which he returned to Ohio in order to get the money necessary to make the purchase. Meanwhile another man selected the same tract of land and started for Niles to get the money and pay the land officer at Kalamazoo. Soon after the claimant departed, the brother arrived with the money, and Mr. Michael at once started on foot with it across the country to Kalamazoo, where he made the payment at the land office. Just as he was leaving that City, he met the other claimant hastening to the land office.

A child of three years when he accompanied his father to Michigan, the subject of this sketch grew to manhood amid the primeval scenes of pioneer existence. He cleared twenty acres unaided and helped in the work of clearing the remainder of the property. In 1849 he went to Xenia, Ohio, walking the entire distance thither and remaining there until the fall of 1850, meanwhile learning the trade of a gunsmith. This occupation he followed in Dowagiac, Mich. In 1864 he journeyed across the plains with a wagon train to California, where he engaged in mining and also followed the occupation of a carpenter, returning East via the Isthmus of Panama.

In March, 1853, Mr. Michael married Miss Hattie, the daughter of Edward Ballengee, a merchant of Dowagiac, who died in November, 1891, aged eighty-six years. He was an old settler of Berrien County, having come here in 1836. Mr. and Mrs. Michael have been the parents of four children, three of whom are now living: Julia E., who for the past eight years has been a teacher in the Dowagiac schools; Estella M., the wife of G. B. Moore, of Dowagiac; and Charles B., who is in Marysville, Kan. Edward died in September, 1865.

In 1859 Mr. Michael began the business of conveyancing and real-estate dealing, which he still conducts. He was elected Justice of the Peace in 1868 and served until 1874; again he was appointed to that office in 1883 and has served ever since. During the seventeen years in which he has tilled the position, no decision made by him has over been reversed in either the Circuit or the Supreme Court. In 1860 he was appointed Notary Public and has acted in that capacity ever since, with the exception of one year spent in California. A Whig in former years, he has been a Republican since the organization of the party. For about fourteen years he was Clerk of Silver Creek Township, Cass County, also served as Deputy Sheriff, Coroner for two years and Treasurer of Silver Creek Township for three years.

Socially Mr. Michael is prominently identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has been a member of the lodge since 1854, having represented it in the Grand Lodge fifteen times. March 30, 1886, he received the appointment of United States Pension Agent, an honor which was conferred upon him without any solicitation on his part. At present he is the only pension agent in Cass County and since his appointment he has filed over three hundred claims for pensioners.