The son, Arthur E. Bailey, largely acquired his education in the schools of Cassopolis, for his mother removed to the vicinity of that city after her husband's death, and the children were reared by relatives. He mastered the branches taught in the high school of that place, after which he learned the printer's trade in the office of the Vigilant of Cassopolis, under the direction of Messrs. Shepard & Mansfield. He entered the office in the capacity of "devil" and gradually worked his way upward until he had become manager of the paper. He was appointed postmaster at Cassopolis under President Harrison, holding the position for four and a half years as a successor of L. H. Glover. After retiring from that position he purchased the Marcellus News of C. E. Davis and is now its editor and proprietor. The paper was founded in 1877 and at present is a six-column quarto, published weekly. It has a large circulation, has a good advertising patronage, is a non-partisan sheet and is ably edited.

In October, 1892, Mr. Bailey was married to Miss Fanchon Stockdale, who was born in Jefferson township, Cass county, in February, 1872, and is a daughter of Anthony and Jeanette (Smith) Stockdale. Her father was one of the pioneer settlers of Jefferson township. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey have two children: Agnes, who was born in August, 1893; and Harold, born in July, 1896. The parents are consistent and faithful members of the Baptist church, in the work of which Mr. Bailey takes a very active part and is now serving as one of its officers. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity and in politics is a Republican. He has held village offices in Marcellus and is now serving as a trustee. He is the champion of everything pertaining to the welfare and upbuilding of this part of the state, and his efforts in behalf of public improvement in Marcellus have been far-reaching and beneficial.

HENRY H. BOWEN.

Henry H. Bowen, one of the old settlers of the county, who has assisted in clearing and developing four farms, and thus contributing in large measure to the agricultural improvement of this section of the state, is now the owner of one hundred and fifty acres of good and well improved land on section 16, Porter township. He is, moreover, one of the native sons of Michigan, his birth having occurred at Plymouth Corners, near Detroit, in Washington county, on the 20th of March, 1839. He was the fourth member of a family of nine children born of the marriage of Joseph and Sallie Ann (Austin) Bowen, both of whom were natives of New York. In the year 1840 Joseph Bowen came with his family to Cass county, settling in north Porter township, and throughout his remaining days his attention was devoted to general agricultural pursuits, which indeed he made his life work. He passed away at the advanced age of seventy-nine years, respected and honored by all who knew him, and his wife, who was a most worthy and esti

mable lady, also departed this life in Cass county, her remains being interred in Porter township.

H. H. Bowen, of this review, lacked eight days of being a year old when brought by his parents to Cass county, and upon the old home farm in Porter township he was reared. At the usual age he began his education, the little "temple of learning" being a log building such as was common in the early days. Its furnishings were primitive, consisting of rude benches and a table, behind which the teacher sat ruling over the little kingdom. The room was heated with a large fireplace and the school work was ungraded, the pupils studying the branches that they wished. The larger pupils attended only through the winter months, for their services were needed upon the farms during the spring, summer and fall seasons. Mr. Bowen remained continuously on the old farm until the age of eighteen. He has assisted in clearing four different farms in the county. In his youth he aided in the arduous task of developing new land, turning the first furrows on many an acre. His early boyhood was largely a period of strenuous toil, but he developed thereby the practical knowledge, and gained the experience that enabled him to carefully and successfully carry on farming interests when he started out upon an active business career. He remained at home through his minority and when twenty-four years of age was united in marriage on the 6th of April, 1863, to Miss Diana Charles, a daughter of Rufus K. and Emeline (Joy) Charles, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of New York. Mrs. Bowen, who was the eldest of their three children, was born in Porter township, Cass county, September 13, 1842, her parents having there located at an early day in the pioneer epoch of Michigan's history. The family home was upon the farm and she was trained to the duties of the household, so that she was well qualified to take charge of a home of her own at the time of their marriage. The young couple began their domestic life upon a part of the old Bowen homestead, where they yet reside, and Mr. Bowen devoted his time and energies to the tilling of the soil until the early part of 1865, when, in response to the country's call for further aid in the suppression of the rebellion in the south, he offered his services and was assigned to duty with Company A, of the Twenty-fourth Michigan Volunteers, serving with that regiment until the close of the war. He is now a member of William J. May Post, No. 64, G. A. R., at Jones, and thus maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades. He has filled various offices in the post, including that of commander. His political allegiance has always been given to the Republican party, of which he is a stanch advocate, and he has labored earnestly and effectively for the welfare of the party in this locality. His first presidential ballot was cast for Abraham Lincoln in 1860, and he again voted for the martyred president in 1864. In fact he has assisted in electing every Republican president of the nation. Called to public office, he has served as constable in the township, was also

treasurer and filled the office of township clerk for about seven years, the duties of the different positions being discharged in a capable, prompt and able manner.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bowen have been born three sons, two of whom are yet living, namely: Barnard, of Constantine, Michigan, and Frank Raymond, who is living in Townsend, Montana, where for about ten years he has occupied a position as clerk in the employ of one firm, a fact which indicates his fidelity to duty. Rufus K. died at the age of nineteen years. The home farm comprises one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 16, Porter township, and he has a well improved property, equipped with many evidences of progress along agricultural lines. With the exception of his first year Mr. Bowen has resided continuously in Porter township throughout his entire life, and the farm upon which he yet resides is endeared to him through the associations of his boyhood as well as those of later manhood. He has always been a busy man, working persistently and earnestly, realizing that there is no excellence without labor. It has been said that merit and success go linked together, and the truth of this assertion is proven in the life history of such men as H. H. Bowen, who has prospered by reason of his diligence and sterling worth, and he well deserves mention in this volume as one of the representative early settlers.

JAMES J. MINNICH.

The Germans and their descendants have always been noted for their thrift and enterprise. To the German farmer the middle west is indebted for the beautiful and well-improved farms, in the states of Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Iowa. Mr. Minnich is a true representative of this class of citizens in Cass county, Michigan. He comes from Pennsylvania German ancestry and is possessed of those requisites which go to make the successful stockman and farmer. He is a native of the Keystone state, born in Snyder county, October 3, 1856, and the third in a family of thirteen children, nine sons and four daughters, born to Elias and Sophia (Garman) Minnich. There are eight children living, namely: Peter, a resident of Three Oaks, Michigan, is a farmer and fruit grower and is married. Mr. Minnich is next. Andrew, a resident of Mason township, Cass county, is a manufacturer of cider and jellies, and is prosperous. He is married. Carrie, wife of Rev. W. C. Swenk, a resident of Ida, Michigan, and is pastor of the Evangelical church. Charles G., a resident of Kalamazoo, Michigan. He is a composer and teacher of music. He graduated under Prof. A. P. Barlow. He is married. Ellsworth, a resident of Berrien Springs, Michigan, is a manufacturer of cider and jellies, the firm being styled the American Cider Company, and he is married. Jane is the wife of William Stover, a resident of Berrien county. John, a resident of Los Angeles, California, is a machinist and millwright, being foreman in