My Genealogy Hound

ANDREW J. CAROTHERS, a prominent citizen of Buchanan, Berrien County, Mich., and the popular proprietor of the Hotel Earl, a fine brick building of three stories, containing twenty-four pleasant and airy rooms, offers to the traveling public superior accommodations and excellent board, and, established in his present quarters since 1890, has received a large and rapidly extending custom. Mr. Carothers is a native of Mishawaka, Ind., and was born December 9, 1845. His father, John A. Carothers, emigrated with his parents from his native land, Scotland, to America when a child, and settled in Pennsylvania, where he received his education and attained to manhood. Bound out to a hatter, he acquired the trade, and, beginning life for himself, went to Indiana, where he received employment. In this latter State he worked at his trade as a hatter, but was a machinist as well and a man of energetic industry. In 1852 he journeyed to Colorado, in which State he died in 1861. The mother, Emily (Martin) Carothers, made her home in Michigan after her husband went West, and died in Berrien County. She was a most estimable woman and the mother of four children: Andrew J.; Mary E., wife of Stewart Bell, of Iowa; Lavina A., wife of William. Pitts, of Kansas; and George W., deceased. The father had been twice married, and by his first wife had three children: William, a resident of Pennsylvania; John A., a citizen of Illinois; and Jennie.

Our subject, essentially a self-reliant and self-made man, enjoyed limited opportunities for instruction in Indiana and Chicago, Ill., but early became a bread-winner. When about nine years of age his mother died and, the eldest of the young orphans, Andrew J. found his way to Chicago while in his tenth year. He remained in the Western metropolis until he was nearly fourteen years old, when he returned to South Bend, Ind., and was variously employed until the breaking out of the Civil War. At this juncture young Carothers, aged seventeen, enlisted in Company K, Eighty-seventh Indiana Infantry, but was not mustered into the United States service until transferred as a teamster to a Government transportation attached to Gen. Davidson’s cavalry command, and engaged principally at Duvall’s Bluff, Ark. Our subject was employed as carrier between Gens. Steele and Davidson, his route being from Duvall’s Bluff to Little Rock. The position which he occupied was one constantly surrounded by danger, and Mr. Carothers in the faithful discharge of his responsible duties encountered many thrilling adventures and hair-breadth escapes from capture or death. He was literally between two fires, and was not only exposed to Confederate attacks, but in the darkness at times was liable to be shot by the soldiers of his own party. On account of failing health he was, after some time, discharged from the service, and, returning to his former home, visited among friends, relatives and acquaintances for a few months.

A second time enlisting in the service of the Union, our subject entered Company H, Twelfth Indiana Cavalry, as bugler, and actively participated in the battles of Nashville, Franklin, Stevenson, Wilkinson’s Pike and many other hot fights, and in all took part in twenty-two engagements, being once struck by a spent ball, which knocked him over without inflicting any wound. Upon the 22d of November, 1865, honorably discharged at Vicksburg, Miss., and mustered out at Indianapolis, Mr. Carothers again sought his childhood home and located in Indiana, his permanent residence until 1874. He left the army without means, and obtaining employment in his native State as a carpenter, pursued that trade for about nine years. In 1874 he engaged in business in Buchanan, and in 1890 became the proprietor of the Hotel Earl, favorably known to many transient guests and the local public.

In 1866 Andrew J. Carothers and Miss Jennie Barr, of South Bend, Ind., were united in marriage. The estimable wife of our subject was the daughter of Saul T. and Electa (Button) Barr, of New York State. The pleasant home of Mr. and Mrs. Carothers has been blessed by the birth of five children. Nettie died at the age of six years; Jennie J. was the second in order of birth; Eddie is deceased; Nettie E. was the fourth child of the family; and Grace E. is the youngest-born. Mr. Carothers affiliates with Lodge No. 78, I. O. O. F., of Buchanan. He is also a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and much enjoys the reunions of the order. Politically, he is a Republican, and takes a deep interest in all matters of mutual welfare, local and national. He is a friend to educational advancement and is ever ready to assist in progressive enterprises tending to the public good. A liberal-spirited citizen, our subject is numbered among the substantial men of Buchanan, and with his worthy wife enjoys the high regard of a wide acquaintance.