My Genealogy Hound

ALBERT L. DREW, a skillful civil engineer and successful attorney-at-law, is a resident of Chikaming Township and well known throughout Berrien County. He is a native of Cass County and the first white child born on Beardsley Prairie, Milton Township. The day of the birth of our highly esteemed subject was July 5, 1834. The Drews are of direct Scotch descent, three brothers emigrating from “bonnie Scotland” to America in a very early day in the history of the Colonies. One of the brothers settled in Vermont, another in New Jersey, and the third in the Empire State. The father of our subject, Oliver Drew, was born, reared and educated in the Green Mountain State, and remained in the home of his childhood until he had arrived at his majority. When twenty-one years of age, beginning life for himself, he went to the State of New York and engaged in stair-building, and, an excellent mechanic, was prospered. He remained in New York until 1832, when he determined to try his fortune in a new country and journeyed to the wilds of Michigan, settling in Cass County, where, in 1833, he married Miss Ann Woods, a native of the Quaker State and a daughter of James Woods, a member of one of the old Pennsylvania-Dutch families.

After locating in Michigan, Oliver Drew engaged in a variety of employment, digging wells and pump making. He was a manufacturer of the first wooden pump in Cass County, and was a man of spirit and enterprise. During the Sac War he made a gallant defense against the Indians, and his death was mourned as a public loss when he died in Cass County in 1853. He and his good wife were the parents of four sons and four daughters, of whom five are yet living. Harvey L. served with bravery in the Civil War, and is now a wealthy banker of San Bernardino, Cal. Our subject, Albert L., was reared among the pioneer scenes of Milton Township, and attended the primitive schools of his home district, afterward receiving instruction in the graded schools of Elkhart and Mishawaka, Ind.

In 1861 Mr. Drew made his permanent home in Berrien County and in the same year began reading law with Judge Coolidge, and, in a brief time entering upon the practice of his legal profession, has since been retained in numerous important cases tried in various parts of Berrien County. Enjoying an extended reputation as a practitioner at the Bar, our subject is also known as an able civil engineer, and has done a large amount of business in that line of work, peculiarly incidental to a new country. For four years Mr. Drew occupied with efficiency the responsible position of County Surveyor, and was also Supervisor of his township for eleven consecutive years, and was a most valuable factor in the promotion of the best interests of his locality. Our subject was likewise one of the Trustees of the Michigan State Prison for one term, and occupied with distinction the Presidential chair of the Farmers Institute and the Old Settlers’ Association.

Albert L. Drew and Miss Helen A. Sherrill were united in marriage in 1857, in Cass County, amid the best wishes of many friends. Mrs. Drew is the daughter of old settlers of Michigan, and was born in Jefferson Township, Cass County. Our subject and his estimable wife have one child, a son, Guy E., a young man of promise, now employed in his profession as assistant civil engineer by the Michigan Central Railroad Company, with which corporation he has been connected for many years. When Mr. Drew first came to Berrien County he purchased the valuable farm of four hundred and eighty acres which he still owns. The land is under excellent cultivation and highly improved with an attractive residence, substantial barns and other buildings. The farm is one of the finest in the county and, located about twenty miles from the county seat, is the abode of hospitality. Soon after settling in Berrien County our subject built a sawmill, which he operated profitably for twelve years, and in his various enterprises exhibits the indomitable energy and intelligent business ability which have characterized his entire career.

Politically, Mr. Drew is an Independent, but, formerly a Republican, cast his first Presidential vote for John C. Fremont. He has from his earliest manhood actively interested himself in local and national issues, and been a leader in the councils of his fellow-townsmen. The parents of our subject were valued members of the Baptist Church at Edwardsburgh, Cass County, with which religious organization his wife is also connected. Mr. and Mrs. Drew are generous givers in behalf of religious and benevolent work and enterprise, and occupy a high social position. Passing a life of honored and busy usefulness, our subject has gained and retains the confidence of a host of old-time friends.