| Notes |
- Viola is the daughter of Zilpha Jane Chadwick & Chas. W Teetzel.
Viola May Teetzel married Lewis Melvin Lightner, Seven Leighton/Lightner children, born Hartford, Van Buren, Michigan.
. 1884 Oct 23 - Hartford, Married Oct 15th, by Rev Wm. Woodman, Mr. Lewis Lightner & Miss Viola Teetzel, by Rev. Wm. Woodmansee.
Ref: The True Northerner, Paw Paw, Michigan.
. 1908 Mar 20 - Real Estate Transfers: Viola M Lightner to Lewis M Lightner SW Quarter, SE quarter section 3, Hartford, $1000.
Ref: The True Northerner, Paw Paw, Michigan.
. 1954, May 4, News Palladium Newspaper, Benton Harbor, Michigan
More Lighthouse Lore, Editor,
I have the pictures, family Bible & chairs of the first man in the St. Joseph lighthouse, along with other things. One book has an article written & signed, by Gen. McAllen. I have his & his wife's picture.
My mother, Mrs. Viola Teetzel Lightner, was born in the light-house, Dec 28, 1860.
she lived there with her mother, Zelpha Chadwick Teetzel, father Lt. Charles W Teetzel & Teetzel grandfather, G B F. Chadwick. Gen. Chadwick married Capt. Lewis' daughter.
Gen. Chadwick was appointed by President Piece as superintendent of public works & later, keeper of the lighthouse, for his services as general in the state militia. He was a colorful orator & organizer during the Civil War. The lighthouse dated 1859 was built for the general & his family.
Gen. Chadwick's close friend, who lived near the lighthouse was Mathias Teetzel. He was the contractor of the canal between Benton Harbor & St. Joseph. He bought & sold wheat. His sister was the late Dr. John Bell's mother. [i.e. Mary Green Teetzel.]
Other places are restoring & moving back historical buildings & renewing their histories for students & to draw the tourist trade. I hope someone in St. Joseph has enough influence to preserve the lighthouse.
MRS. JACK J RUDELL, 2516 Pixley Avenue, St. Joseph Teetzel.
. 1954 May 25, A long article outlying the history of St. Joseph Lighthouse.
Supports of the Save he Light house movement in St. Joseph ..., Built in 1859.
Mrs. Jack Lightner Rudell, 2516 Pixley Ave., Mrs. Jenie Lightner Balfour, Watervliet, great grandchildren of the first keeper of the lighthouse, Gen. F F Chadwick. In their homes both women have many treasures of the old lighthouse's past: Photos of chair, a small chest Chas. W Teezel made during the Civil War for this wife, the chest is complete even to the traditional secret compartment.
Another famous person who lived in the lighthouse was Capt. Marshall Lewis, famous for his construction of the Erie canal.
Born in Lighthouse, the mother of the women, Mrs. Viola Lightner, was the first person to be born in the... house, the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Charles W. (Zipha Jane Chadwick) Teetzel.
She was born Dec. 28, 1860. Photos of Gen. Chadwick & Mrs. Viola Teetzel Lighter.
. 1965 May - 17 Long retrospect article on the old St. Joseph's lighthouse, which eventually was razed to make way for a parking lot. Photo of the old 2 story house, with a porch & a another story with the lighthouse atop the house.
Research & transcriptions by PJ Ahlberg. Thank you. - - -
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1860 - 1940 (79 years)