Information contributed by Gloria Arndt - prairiefarm@csinet.net
From: Chapman's 1904 History of La Porte County
David F. Birchim was born in this county July 9, 1842, the son of Abram
and Agnes Birchim, natives of Westmoreland county, Penn., who emigrated
to Ohio, and resided there until 1835, at which time they came to this
State and passed through all the hardships of the early pioneers. Mr.
Birchim died June 11, 1856. David occupies the old homestead, and has
had good success as a farmer. He has added considerable to it, now
owning 248 acres, the greater portion of which is under a high state of
cultivation. He raises considerable stock, making a specialty of the
thoroughbred Poland-China hogs. Mr. B. married Belle Francis Jan. 25,
1866, who was born in Berkley county Va., in 1843, and of their 5
children 3 are living, to-wit: James A., Lio Lemmon and Adda F. Mr. B.
is well known throughout the county as he has been selling the Dowagiac
Drill, IXL Wind Mill, and other farm machinery. He has held the office
of Constable, and is now Assessor, which office he has held for five
years; is also Master of the Masonic Lodge at Rolling Prairie,
Residence, sec. 25; P. O. Rolling Prairie. From: Daniels 1904 History
of La Porte County Excerpt: David F. Birchim who came with his parents
in 1835 and after the death of his father took charge of the farm.
From: Chapman's 1990 History of La Porte County Excerpt: Mr. Birchim,
Postmaster at Hatch's Mills keeps a very limited supply of groceries
and notions but makes little pretentions, however of keeping a stock of
goods.
From: 1862 Atlas of La Porte County Galena Twp. Section 25 - J
& ? Birchim
D. F. BIRCHIM KILLED WHEN STRUCK BY A TROLLEY CAR
Former County Commissioner Victim of Crossing Tragedy in Northern Indiana Near His Home. March 2l, l9l8
Injuries Received Caused Instant Death.
Was Native of LaPorte County, Seventy-five Years of Age, and Prominent in Democratic Political Circles.
Another crossing tragedy was recorded late yesterday in the annals of LaPorte county when D. F. Birchim, well-known resident of Galena Township and former County Commissioner, was killed at the crossing of the Northern Indiana tracks near the sub-station east of Rolling Prairie. The tragedy took place at about 5:50 o’clock. Mr. Birchim was driving home in his big Paige car at the time of the accident. He had speeded up his machine in going over the crossing of the New York Central tracks ahead of a freight train and the theory is that in noticing the approach of an eastbound car on the Northern Indiana line, Mr. Birchim attempted to apply his brakes to slow down or stop, instead of applying the brake, he put his foot on the accelerator which caused his machine to "speed up" and as the tracks of the trolley line are but a short distance from the New York Central right of way the crash took place before he could regain control of his car or cross the tracks in safety. The Northern Indiana train struck the car in the center or amidship, with the results that it was whirled entirely around. In the collision Mr. Birchim received a deep gash on his forehead over the left eye, his left arm was broken, with a scalp wound or two, but the injury, according to the statement of Coroner Leeds, which onward death, resulted from the crushing of his ribs on the left side of his body, pressure against his heart ending his life in an instant, though the skin was not broken. An unusual feature of the tragedy was that the motor was not damaged, while the front and taillights continued to burn. The body was taken to the Birchim home and a call sent to Culter Bros. undertakers, Coroner Leeds being summoned at the same time to conduct the inquest.
Mr. Birchim was a very careful driver, seldom operating his car at a speed to exceed 12 to 16 miles per hour and the accepted explanation of the tragedy is that accident resulted, when he made the fatal mistake of putting his foot on the accelerator, when it was his evident intention to apply the brake and stop the car or slow his speed until the Northern Indiana car passed and he could make his crossing safely. The body of the automobile was badly damaged.
------Was Native Son----
David Frank Birchim was a native son of LaPorte County, the son of Abram and Agnes Birchim and was born July 9, 1842. He would soon have celebrated his 76th birthday. He is mourned by his widow and two sons, James A. and Lemon L. Five children were born to bless the union, three of, whom preceded the father in death. Mr. Birchim was a farmer, a calling which claimed the many years of residence on the old home place. In addition to his interest in all pertained to agriculture, Mr. Birchim took an active interest in politics. His democracy was at the type characterized by intones loyalty to his party’s ideals. Reward came to him in a political sense in his election as county commissioner for two successive terms. He was a member of the board of commissioners at the time the LaPorte county court house was erected. He also filled other minor positions of trust in his township.
David Frank Birchim was picturesque figure. He was tall and commanding in his-physique, his personality was striking, while in the affairs of life he was conscientious in the discharge of all the obligations which, American citizenship imposed. He was a born hunter and for years made trip to Wisconsin and northern Michigan in pursuit of game. In relations of his home he measured up to
News Article on recollections of Lem Birchim in local newspaper - Dec-8-1935
Lem Birchim whose hale and robust figure at 66 years is evidence of the pioneer stock from which he comes, claims the distinction of being the only "Lem" in LaPorte county since the passing of Mayor Lemme Barrow.
Mr. Birchim owns land, fertile and timbered across Galena township, just west of Sagunay Lake, this has been in the family for 100 years and that was occupied by his father and grandfather before him.
At 66 years, he possessed a remarkably keen memory, well stocked with the lore of the country surrounding Sagunay lake. He was born a half-mile west of the lake, at the same place where his father, Frank Birchim was born in 1840. His grandfather, Abram Birchim, had settled there in1835, purchasing his land from the government at 65 80 acre.
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One of Mr. Birchim’s interesting stories concern Chief Sagunay, head of the Pottawattomie Indians, who occupied this region and his devotions to his wife.
In the course of time the Pottawattomies decided to leave this part of the county to move southward. Old Chief Sagunay, however, refused to go with them, because his wife was buried near Sagunay Lake and he wanted to remain near her grave the rest of his life.
That he did, living alone in the log cabin. He passed away about 1840. Mr. Birchim’s grandfather knew him personally, and the chief was living during the first five years of Mr. Birchim’s father’s life.
Chief Sagunay’s log cabin was the first at Sagunay Lake. Years after his death it remained, finally falling to ruin. As a boy Mr. Birchim remembers having review the fallen lags that once made up the cabin.
Other evidence of the Indians’ occupation of that part of the county could be seen years ago in the marks on the trees, made by the Indians when they tapped them in the spring.
That part of the county also has yielded many Indian relics in the form of arrowheads, stone axes, pipes, hammers and pottery. Mr. Birchim has over 100 arrowheads, ranging from tiny ones measuring a half-inch across, to those with a span of several inches, all perfectly fashioned. He obtained all the arrowheads on his own property. ____________
Fine virgin timber once covered much of Galena Township and 40 acres of poplar and black walnut on the Birchim property once was the finest stand of that in the township. Because of large number of trees, sugar making was quite an "industry" in years gone by, Mr. Birchim recalls.
To indicate the quantity of sap that was taken in past years, Mr. Birchim tells of the four Tappan Brothers, who, one spring worked in shifts 24 hours a day for three weeks straight, boiling the sap, and most of the time the sap buckets were running over before they could get to them.
When the covering timber was greater, frost stayed in the ground longer in the spring, resulting in a better sap flow.
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Incidentally the old Birchim home west of Sagunay Lake was exactly on a natural watershed. Water running the east side of the roof went eventually to Sagunay and Hudson lakes and the St. Joseph river, running down the west side the water drained in the Galena river.
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When Mr. Birchim’s father was a boy, deer was still plentiful in that vicinity. He often would take hunting trips to northern Michigan and Wisconsin, but always declared there were more deer here than either of those states.
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So plentiful was timber years ago that often-times after a fine specimen of a tree has been fell, it would be left to rot where it fall, simply because it was to hard to split up for firewood. If the splitting of a tree was a little hard, the woodmen simply would chop down another in the hope that it could be split easier.
What today would constitute a fortune in black walnut frequently was used by farmers in building rail fences around their property.
In clearing land for farming vast quantities of logs would be burned. Mr. Birchim recalls such fires that would steadily for a week.