Person:William Barker (14)

Lo and behold, William and his brother Marshall are in Jackson Prison, located in Jackson County, MI at the time of the 1900 census. A D in the column for marital status indicates he was divorced.

At one time, it seemed he had been married twice, but further research does not show it. A second marriage could have been after he was released from prison.

William and Eliza had a daughter Irene E. b. abt 1875, and boys Ogden, b. abt 1877, and Rolla, b. abt 1879.

From History of Berrien and Van Buren Co's Michigan - D. W. Ensign & Co., 1880

Bloomingdale Township, Van Buren County, Michigan

The territory embraced within the limit of this township, with Almena, Waverly, and Pine Grove, formed the old township of Clinch. It became Waverly in 1842, Bloomingdale in 1845, and by the erection of Pine Grove, in 1849, assumed its present proportions.

During a fire which occurred in the village of Bloomingdale, Aug. 23, 1878, the township records were completely destroyed, and it is now a matter of impossibility to ever compile a complete list of the township officers.

Bloomingdale comprises the territory designated in the United States survey as township No. 1 south, of range No. 14 west, which, with the present township of Pine Grove, was organized as Bloomingdale in 1845. The soil is a sandy and clay loom, fertile and well adapted to the culture of fruits and the cereals.

There are twenty-two small lakes in Bloomingdale township, with a total of about 1000 acres. Some of the lakes are Great Bear (which also extends into Columbia township), Muskrat, Sweet, Twin, Three-Legged, Mud, Lake-Mill, Max, Little Brandywine, Thayer, and Smith's.

Village of Bloomingdale, Van Buren County Michigan

The village of Bloomingdale, was platted by William Killefer and Lucius B. Kendall, May 23, 1870, the original plat embracing portions of sections 16 and 17.

An addition was made by George W. Haven, Sept. 15, 1870.

Bloomingdale is situated west of the geographical centre of the township and is a station on the line of the Kalamazoo and South Haven branch of the Michigan Central Railroad.

In 1880 it contained three stores of general merchandise, two hardware stores, one drug and grocery store, two church edifices (Baptist and Christian), Masonic and Odd Fellows' lodges, one hotel, one graded school, two medical offices, several small mechanical shops, and about 300 inhabitants.

The first settler upon its site was Henry Killefer. About 1854, David Haven, of Portage Co., Ohio, purchased 160 acres in the vicinity of the present village, and soon after the entire north half of section 17. As an inducement for Mr. Killefer to settle here, he, Mr. Haven, gave him one acre of land, now embraced within the depot grounds. In the fall of 1857, Mr. Killefer came on from Putnam Co., Ohio, and erecting a small building, now a portion of the hotel, established his family in the second story, while he opened a small stock of boots, shoes, and groceries in the first. This was the first house erected on the village site, although William J. Merwin and Rufus M. Brown were then living on the hill, about eighty rods east of the same.

Shortly after his settlement Mr. Killefer received the appointment of postmaster, and held the office until 1862. J.P. Howard was then appointed, and continued as postmaster to 1866. He was succeeded by William Killefer, who held it two years. In 1868, J.E. Rankin received the appointment, and in 1871 was succeeded by John Killefer, the present incumbent.

After occupying his first building three years, Mr. Killefer erected the building now owned by his son John. Some two or three years later he sold it to Barber & Lane, and built the store which, in December, 1868, with J.P. Howard's store and Barber Brothers' drug store, was burned. The building now owned by Augustus Haven was erected by Mr. Killefer in 1869.

About 1860, Messrs. Merwin & Brown opened a store near their residence on the hill, previously mentioned.

Prior to 1869, Messrs. Barber & Lane established a mercantile business, which until the near completion of the railroad, comprised, with those already named, the businessmen of the village.

The first passenger train on the Kalamazoo and South Haven Railroad arrived at the village July 4, 1870.

Augustus Haven then owned the one acre first settled upon by Mr. Killefer, having paid therefor $800. Samuel Lane became owner of the original Killefer building, and removed it to the present hotel site. He built an addition to it, and first opened the present hotel.

A.W. Torrey set up the first steam saw mill a portable one, in the fall of 1870. It was removed to Bangor in 1878. Mr. Killefer built the present saw mill in 1871.

Dr. L.A. Barber was the first physician. He had practiced previously while residing one mile west of the village. Drs. C.W. Morse and H.R. Bulson have also lived and practiced here. The present physicians are Drs. Barber and William B. Anderson.

The First Methodist Episcopal Society in Bloomingdale was organized in the winter of 1856, by Rev. Mr. Corey, assisted by Rev. H. Caldwell, a junior preacher with him on the circuit, the society being in the Black River charge of the Kalamazoo district, Rev. I. Cogshall, presiding elder. The names of the original members were A. Miller, Class Leader; W.C. Wait, Steward; F. Miller, J.A. Wait, H.E. Miller, E. Caughey, William J. Merwin, T. Merwin, L. Cook, M. Cook, and M.S. Miller.

The Christian or Disciple Church of Bloomingdale was organized April 5, 1858, and held their early meetings in the school house on section 15. The original members were Harrison Cooley, Austin Melvin, Frederick Melvin, Eli Bell, Margaret Bell, Russell Loomis, Rebecca Loomis, M.L. Healey, Maria Healey, R. F. Loomis, Mary F. Loomis, W. D. Ensminger, Polly Ensminger, George Pierce, Henrietta Pierce, Augustus Haven, William Armstrong, Abby Killefer, Azubah Cooley, Corintha Strong, Lucretia Brown, Julia M. Paxton, Marinda Loomis, Louisa Loomis and Margaret Corning. A house of worship was erected in the village of Bloomingdale in 1871, at a cost of $3500, and has a seating capacity for 300 persons.

The Baptist Church of Bloomingdale was also an early church in Bloomingdale.

The Bloomingdale Lodge, No. 221, F. and A. M. held their first meeting May 5, 1866 and the Bloomingdale Lodge, No. 161, I. O. O. F. was instituted May 16, 1871.