St. Joseph County Historical Society of Michigan

05/31/2026

The Berridge Shear Co. factory on the northwest corner of St. Joseph and Jefferson Streets in about 1910.

THE SPOTLIGHT OTTO JEDELE
Three Rivers Shoppers Guide, August 5, 1975.
By Jerry Wright, PART ONE

Otto Jedele is a man who has known lonliness, anguish and pain. Amidst his strife he has developed his character to generate gentleness, understanding and generosity. His success has come through knowledge, persistence and hard work. To example all this is near impossible because Otto is not a flag waver. He remains humble and discreet in all his good works.
Jedele is pronounced like the J is a Y … Yedlee; it’s German. Otto was born Ottmar Frederick Jedled, September 16, 1894, one of seven children to a farmer and his wife, Frederick and Katheryn Yedele in Scio Township just outside Ann Arbor. It wasn’t the usual hard work as a farmer’s son for Otto. He was an unhealthy child.
“I spent t a lot of time in the shade,” Otto keeps insisting.
But this time wasn’t wasted. This gave him an opportunity to follow life’s pathway in a different light than his brothers and sisters.
After grade school and high school in and around Ann Arbor, Otto attended and was graduated from Cleary Business Colleg in Ypsilanti, Michigan. He was the only one of the seven children who had the opportunity to receive a higher education. Cleary’s guaranteed Otto a job upon graduation and he was placed with the Berridge Shear Company in Sturgis, Michigan. while the Jedele family was farming their 310 acres, Otto did his share by contributing funds to them as he could and filled the position of bookkeeper and stenographer and costs accountant in the scissor manufactureing business for Berridge.
During his 12 years with Berridge Shear Company, Otto served in the United States Army. He was stationed in Battle Creek and though his term in the military was short it was one of the most unpleasant memories of his life. The great flu epidemic of 1918 hit and while with the 4th Division at Camp Custer, Otto was hospitalized with the flu AND double pneumonia. Of his eight months in service, four were spent in the hospital recovering from this illness that almost took his life. Dr. Scidmore, of our local Scidmore Park fame, saved Otto’s life the way Otto relates the story. He got Otto on the road to recovery.
“The four months I stayed in the hospital was really a little longer than I would have had to stay,” Otto continued, “I was keeping their records for them on the patients and because of my bookkeeping ability they kept me longer than they shoulde have.”
It was during this fly epidemic that Otto lost his brother, Ocsar. He died at home as a result of the illness. On February 19, 1919 Otto was released from the hospital and honorably discharged from his short stint in the Army. He returned to Berridge in Sturgis.

05/31/2026

NOTTAWA—Cutler’s; from “The History of St. Joseph County” published circa 1917. PART ONE

CHARLES D. CUTLER, a prominent merchant of Nottawa, was born October 21. 1881. son of Thomas D. and Eva (Dickinson) Cutler. both natives of St. Joseph County. Thomas D. Cutler was born in Centerville. in 1854, and died August 31, 1905; his wife was born February 18. 1855, and died April 8, 1906. They were married February 19, 1880. The father was a general merchant at Nottawa. and lived there from 1878 until his death. Previous to entering into business on his own account he was postmaster and five years a clerk.
The father of Thomas D. Cutler was born March 25, I815. and settled at Colon. Michigan. where he became a miller. In 1854, he sailed from New York to California. and was gone six months. He returned to Michigan and spent a few months with his family. when he again went to California. th:s time by the overland route-. He spent some time at various points and then located at Redwood Falls, where he owned a half interest in a mill. He died September 11. 1865. and through the good offices of the Masonic Order of which he was an honored member. his business interests were disposed of and the proceeds sent home to his family in Michigan. He married. October 28. 1840. at Colon. Michigan. Desire A. daughter of Abel Belote of Nottawa. born October 28. 1824.

05/31/2026

This is a treat!! 1920 postcard of Mottville. Appears to be looking West toward M 103. I can see the old brick home in the back of the photo that sits near the present bridge.

05/31/2026

Michigan and Prohibition
by Erica Emelander
PART TWO

The Michigan Anti-Saloon League played a meaningful role in creating public disapproval against the saloons, breweries, and any consumption of alcohol. In particular, the high-profile evangelist Reverend Billy Sunday of Iowa gave many fiery sermons against alcoholic beverages. Michigan Governor Chase Osbourn was another outspoken opponent to brewery-owned saloons. By 1907, several Michigan counties began going dry, starting with Van Buren County in the Southwest part of the state. By 1911, thirty-nine counties in the Great Lakes State had adopted local prohibition laws.
As soon as Michigan went officially dry on May 1, 1917, many local citizens began to take matters into their own hands. Bootleggers and smugglers formed their operations within hours of the law going into effect. Other citizens began making their own liquor or beer. The fines given to smugglers was a minor risk compared to the profits one could gain.

05/31/2026

The Klinger Lake railroad station, as it appeared in 1918. It stood on the north side of the tracks a short distance west of Klinger Lake Road. Built in 1872, it was sold by the New York Central on August 25, 1942 and was removed.
(Robert Hair Book on Sturgis)

05/31/2026

CENTREVILLLE: The Civil War Monument at Prairie River Cemetery.

The monument was erected around 1896 in honor of local men who served in the war of the Rebellion in 1861-1865 and for the St. Joseph County men who served in Mexico, Company E. 15th Infantry under Captain I. D. Toll. As the result of an accident approximately 15 inches of the soldier’s rifle barrel was broken off. Unfortunately, repairs were not made at the time and the broken piece was lost or discarded.
March to the Sea Camp #135 of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War took responsibility for the restoration of this statue to its original glory. With the help of many local donors and grants received we were able to retain the services of two skilled sculptors to recreate the museum piece from granite and reaffix it in time for Memorial Day of 2008.

Barely more than a year old, Camp No. 138 was able to raise the $2,100 through donations to cover the expense of creating and installing the missing piece.

The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War

The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW) is a fraternal patriotic and educational organization of male descendant s of Civil War veterans who sacrificed so much in order to preserve our Union.
SUVCW was founded on November 12, 1881 and was later chartered by act of Congress as a patriotic educational society.
Its missions include honoring Union veterans, preserving and perpetuating the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) and providing patriotic education.
Membership is open to male descendants of veterans who served honorably during the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865. Applicants must be at least 14 years of age and must not have been convicted of any heinous or notorious crime (felony). Additionally, the ancestor through which eligibility is claimed must not have ever borne arms against the United States Government.

05/31/2026

Mendon High School Alumni report, compiled by Floy Mumby, class of 1891 and Maryella Bowdish, class of 1936.
*-- Deceased

05/31/2026

Reunion of the 11th Michigan Volunteer Infantry; August 1914.
From the post card collection of the St. Joseph County Historical Society.

05/31/2026

Located south of the tracks on 2nd and Clinton.
William Bishop and Tip Bordner.
BURR OAK-From the files of Ted & Carol Gilding

05/31/2026