Portrait and Biographical Album
of St. Joseph County, Michigan
Containing
Portraits and Biographical Sketches of
Prominent and Representative Citizens of the County,
Together With Portraits and Biographies of All Governors of Michigan
And of the Presidents of the United States
Published By Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1884
614 pages, illustrated, indexed
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Digital Book DVD Requires Adobe Reader 7.0 or higher to View
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Includes biographies of approximately 400 individuals.
In the early 1800's, the northwestern region of the United States and parts of Canada were often referred to as "New France". As Jesuit
missionaries moved into the region, they set up a mission in Berrien County, at what is now Niles, called St. Joseph on the "River of the Miamis."
St. Joseph, husband of the Virgin Mary, was regarded by the missionaries as the patron saint of "New France."
Later, the river became known as "The River on which is the Mission of St. Joseph", and of course soon shortened to the St. Joseph River.
When the legislative body of the Territory of Michigan set up the county on October 29, 1829, it was named St. Joseph.
The village of Burr Oak proper was laid out on the land of William LOCK, in 1851. The first frame house was built in 1850 by William BETTS. The first
store was owned and operated by John TALBOT. It burned down on December 14, 1865. Julius A. THOMPSON built the first Tavern in 1851. The
Baptists built the first church in 1858. In 1852 the post office was moved from "Thompsons' Corner" to Burr Oak, with John CLEWES being the first
postmaster. In the summer of 1853, D. PAGE built the first mill operated by steam. It was destroyed by fire in 1853. A new mill was soon built.
Caleb J. CRANE, in 1859 built a grist-mill on Prairie river.
The first physician was Dr. Nathan MITCHELL, locating here in 1851. Two years later he left and was succeeded by Dr. Harvey LOOMIS, who
administered to the sick for so many years.
Hiram TYLER was the first attorney locating here in 1854.
James TOWER built and operated the first blacksmith shop in 1852.
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