My Genealogy Hound

GEORGE E. BISHOP. On Front Street, opposite the Beckwith Memorial Building, in Dowagiac, the passer-by will observe the hardware store owned and managed by Mr. Bishop. The building has a frontage of twenty-four feet and a depth of one hundred feet, and is three stories in height, in addition to which a warehouse is utilized, 22x100 feet in dimensions, for a carriage repository. On the office floor and second story may be found a complete assortment of hardware, tinware, stoves and agricultural implements, while the upper floor is used for a tinshop and storeroom. The establishment is the finest of its kind in the county, and steady employment is given to a force of five clerks.

The gentleman whose energy has secured this desirable result, and has built up the extensive business now conducted under his name, was born in Genesee County, N. Y., on the 12th of March, 1849. His father, Horace L. Bishop, was born and reared in New York, where he married Emmaline Allison, and after that important event he worked at his trade of carpenter and joiner in Genesee County. In 1855 became to Michigan and settled in Hillsdale County, where he purchased land and now makes his home. He and his estimable wife reared a family of six children, all of whom are still living.

The paternal grandfather of our subject was Isaac Bishop, who was born in New England and was twice married, becoming the father of twenty children who lived to mature years. During the Revolutionary War he enlisted in the defense of the Colonies and served with valor and fidelity for a period of six years. With the army he endured all the horrors of the winter at Valley Forge, and participated in the battles of Cowpens, Stony Point and many of the decisive engagements of the war.

At the time our subject came to Michigan he was six years old. He grew to manhood in Hillsdale County, where he attended the public schools. His first step toward self-support was to secure a position as clerk in a mercantile establishment at Allen, Hillsdale County, where he remained for two and one-half years. Later he clerked in Coldwater, Mich., for two and one-half years, and then, returning to Allen, he resumed his former position as clerk. He remained with his old employer about seven years longer, and in 1881 came to Dowagiac, and in company with his brother-in-law, C. E. Dickinson, bought out the firm of W. E. Vrooman & Co. After two years the firm of Bishop & Dickinson dissolved partnership, C. W. Vrooman buying out Mr. Dickinson, the title of the firm becoming Bishop & Vrooman. After eight years thus spent Mr. Bishop bought out Mr. Vrooman, in January 1891, and has since conducted the business alone.

In 1877 occurred the marriage of Mr. Bishop to Miss Jennie Dickinson, a sister of his former partner and the daughter of Higby Dickinson, a furniture dealer who died in 1876. Mr. and Mrs. Bishop have three children: Edith, Mary and Dickinson. A Republican in politics, Mr. Bishop has held the office of Mayor of Dowagiac, and served as a member of the Board of Education for six years. He was also Collector for Allen Township, Hillsdale County, for several years. Socially, he is identified with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Order of Maccabees and the Modern Woodmen of America.