My Genealogy Hound

JOHN H. STUMP, a representative farmer and successful horticulturist, widely known and universally respected for his sterling integrity and excellent business qualificacations, has for thirty-eight years been intimately associated with the upward growth and history of Berrien County, Mich., and for this length of time has been a resident of his fine farm located upon section 4, Sodus Township. Our subject, a native of Ohio, was born in Stark County May 3, 1840. The paternal grandfather, Nicholas Stump, a man of physical endurance, ability and enterprise, was among the prominent citizens of Stark County, where the father of our subject, John Stump, was likewise born, November 22, 1809. The paternal great-grandfather emigrated to this country from Holland in the early part of the eighteenth century, and, a mere lad, participated courageously in the scenes of those troublous days. He married and settled in Lancaster County, Pa., in which part of the Quaker State Grandfather Nicholas Stump was born May 13, 1776. Later in life making his home in Ohio, he there reared his family and lived to see a second generation rise up around him. His son John, reared, educated and married in his birthplace, remained in Ohio until 1854, when he came with his family to Sodus Township, Mich., and after a life of usefulness passed away October 25, 1864.

The mother of our subject was Miss Magdalene Hatleigh, daughter of Peter Hatleigh, of Pennsylvania, and an early resident of the State. The union of the father and mother was blessed by the birth of eight children, six of whom are yet living. John H., the fifth child in order of birth, was about fifteen years of age when he accompanied his mother to their Western home and had received a fair education in the schools of Ohio. The father having preceded them by a twelvemonth, the family joined him in 1855, and our subject at once began to assist in the work of the sawmill which had just been completed by John Stump, Sr. Within a year the mill burned down and, rebuilt, was again destroyed by fire three years later. At that time the country was very sparsely settled, and the new-comers endured many privations and struggled with many difficulties, finally overcome with unvarying toil and cheerful industry. The father having purchased a section of land, Mr. Stump assisted in clearing and improving the homestead, which he continued to cultivate, and by the death of John, Sr., receiving the home place as his inheritance, he has since remained upon the fertile acres, annually yielding a bounteous harvest.

The valuable farm is devoted mainly to the culture of fruit and produces fine crops of blackberries, raspberries, strawberries and melons. Our subject was married in 1862, and has two daughters, Clara May and Lillian. Clara, a highly successful teacher, has been located in Nebraska four years. Lillian remains with her father upon the old homestead. Fraternally, Mr. Stump is a member of Lake Shore Lodge No. 298, A. F. & A. M., at Benton Harbor, and is also connected with Benton Harbor Lodge No. 132, I. O. O. F. He is, as were his revered parents, a devout member of the Church of God and is an earnest Christian man. Politically, he is a Republican and has ever been faithful to the party, casting his vote always for its candidate. An excellent neighbor and true friend, he enjoys the esteem and confidence of a wide circle of old-time acquaintances and fellow-townsmen.