My Genealogy Hound

AUGUST VETTERLY, an efficient Justice of the Peace and an extensive and successful agriculturist of New Buffalo Township, Berrien County, Mich., owns three hundred and thirty-three and one-half acres of valuable land a short distance southwest of New Buffalo village, and, although not an old resident of his immediate neighborhood, has been identified with the growth and progress of Berrien County for fully two-score years. Justice Vetterly is a native of Switzerland and was born February 21, 1838. His father, Rudolph Vetterly, descended from a long line of hardy Swiss ancestry, was also a native of that mountainous country, born in the republic bounded by Germany, Italy and France March 13, 1802. Educated in the excellent schools of Switzerland, the father attained to a self-reliant manhood, and was united in marriage with Miss Mary Meyer, also a native of Switzerland and born in 1797. After passing forty-nine years of his life in the home of his youth, the father finally decided to remove with his family to America, and in 1851 emigrated to the United States and located in the State of New York, where he remained about one year. In 1852 the family settled permanently in Three Oaks, Mich., where the mother died seventeen years later, March 4, 1869. The father, busy and industrious until enfeebled by age, survived to reach his eighty-seventh year, and passed away February 3, 1889.

Rudolph Vetterly was by trade a wagon-maker, but after arriving in the United States gave his entire attention to the pursuit of agriculture and became one of the leading farmers of his vicinity. He and his excellent wife were prominent members of the German Reformed Church and were active and liberal givers in the extension of religious work and influence. Eight children had gathered about the fireside of the home beyond the sea, and of the goodly family of sons and daughters four survived to adult age. Our subject was the second child in order of birth and was about fourteen years of age when with his parents he left behind him familiar scenes and crossed the Atlantic to enter upon a life amid new surroundings and untried experiences. He had received a good common school education in Switzerland, and attended one winter term in the district school of Galena Township, La Porte County, Ind. He assisted in the work of the homestead and grew up an intelligent and industrious young man, well fitted to assume the responsibilities of life.

Having reached his majority the previous February, August Vetterly was, March 21, 1859, united in marriage with Miss Christina Brodhagen, born October 30,1842. Five sons and four daughters have blessed the home of our subject and his wife. Henry is the eldest-born. The second in order of birth is August. Anna was married to Louis Knott October 27, 1886. Alexander, John, Jennie, Minnie, Willie and May complete the family group. Our subject made his home in Three Oaks in 1852 and began work on a section of the Michigan Central Railroad at Three Oaks, and for eight years occupied the position of foreman. He afterward engaged in the jewelry business and continued profitably in this line of trade for fifteen years. In October, 1889, Mr. Vetterly located in New Buffalo Township and settled upon his fine farm, which, while mainly devoted to grain, also contains fruit and a garden of choice vegetables. The residence, the barns and other buildings are commodious and substantial and attest the thrift and prosperity of the owner of the homestead, one of the best in this part of Berrien County. In April, 1892, our subject was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace, and his judicial decisions since rendered have been fully in accord with law and evidence. Politically, Justice Vetterly is a strong Republican and cast his first vote for Lincoln. Widely known as a man of sterling integrity and earnest purpose, our subject commands universal respect and confidence.