Person:Edwin Sharai (1)

Edwin was the second child and second son of his father's family, and was reared and educated in his native township. However, he started out at the age of twelve years to earn his own living. During his youth he learned the carpenter's trade and for sixteen years was connected with the building operations of Berrien County. In 1864, at the time of the Civil War, he enlisted for service for one year on September 12, 1864 at Niles Michigan, joining Company H, Twenty-fourth Michigan Volunteer Infantry as a private. He served until the close of hostilities, taking part in the battles of Weldon Road, Hatch's Run, Petersburg, and many other important engagements, and was honorably discharged, being mustered out at Detroit, Michigan on June 30, 1865. Returning to his home in Sodus Township, Edwin then resumed his work at the carpenter's trade for several years, meeting with good success in his work. In 1870, In 1876, Edwin moved with his family to California, settling in the San Jose Valley, where he remained for two years, working at the carpenter's trade. He returned to Berrien County, where he continued his work in that line for several years, and in 1891 he and his wife made a second trip to the Pacific coast, remaining in the west for about six months. They made the return trip by team camping along the way, the journey requiring four months and two days. He then made home on the old homestead property, situated on section 22, Sodus Township, where he carried on general agricultural pursuits, and here he also entertained summer boarders, calling his summer resort "Shady Lawn Farm". He was a member of General H. Thomas Post, No. 14, F.A.R. at Benton Harbor, thus maintaining pleasant relations with. his old army comrades. He was a stalwart Republican, giving active and helpful support to his party, and was interested in all that tends to promote the progress of his home locality. With the exception of about three years, Edwin had always resided in Berrien County, covering a period of almost six decades and he was well-known in social and business circles.