USA > Michigan > Allegan County > A twentieth century history of Allegan County, Michigan > Part 53
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85
Jacob D. Boss was reared upon the home farm and assisted in clearing and improving it, securing in the meantime a good common school educa- tion. This has always been his home, with the exception of two years spent in Texas. After his father's death he came into possession of the old home- stead, where he has carried on general farming, although making a specialty of raising and dealing in good horses of registered stock, in which line he has been quite successful. The farm consists of eighty acres, with good and commodious buildings which are admirably adapted for the purposes for which they are used. The farm is a fertile one and well cared for, being equipped with all improvements and up-to-date tools and machinery for successful operation.
Mr. Boss was married in Holland township, Ottawa county, to Miss Johanna Vandenbelt, and December 6, 1892, he was called upon to mourn her death. Of this union was born one daughter, Josie. On November 27, 1894, he was again married, his choice being Miss Geziena Vos, who was born in Fillmore township October 8, 1870. She is the daughter of Brent and Anna (Harrison) Vos, both natives of the Netherlands. They were the parents of nine children, of whom Mrs. Boss is the eldest. Mr. Boss has held the office of drain commissioner of Fillmore township, bringing to it much valuable and practical knowledge of the needs of his township in this direction. Mr. and Mrs. Boss are both members of the Christian Reformed church, and they stand very high in the regard and esteem of the people of this section.
HENRY Boss, M. D .- One of the leading physicians in the northern part of Allegan county is Dr. Henry Boss, who lives at Fillmore Center, in the township of Fillmore. He is a native of Fillmore township, where he was born July 25, 1863, and thus far his entire life has been passed here, with the exception of the years spent in obtaining his collegiate education. Dr. Boss comes of good old Holland ancestry, his father, David Ross, having been born in the Netherlands. David Boss came to America with his family in 1851 and located in Allegan county, being one of the early settlers of Fillmore township, where he passed nearly all of the remainder of his life, although his death occurred in Holland township. Ottawa county, when he was about sixty-six years of age, on September 14, 1892.
379
HISTORY OF ALLEGAN COUNTY
Of a family of four children, Henry was the youngest. He grew to young manhood in Fillmore, and in the meantime secured an education in the common schools, which was followed by a course of study in Hope College. Soon after attaining his majority he determined upon the medical profession as a life vocation and accordingly he selected the University of Michigan as the best place to prepare himself therefor. He entered the medical department of that educational institution in 1884 and after a three years' course graduated with the class of '87. The same year saw him established at Fillmore Center for the practice of his profession and this has been his location ever since. He was married in Fillmore township October 31. 1888, to Miss Reka Algda Veneklasen, and their union has been blessed with the birth of two children, Anna and David L., the latter dying when only one year old. Fraternally, Dr. Boss is affiliated with the Masons, and politically he is a Republican. During his twenty years' practice Dr. Boss has been very successful, his professional work covering the entire territory of several townships. The people have thorough confidence in him as a practitioner and a man, and his excellent training and long experience fits him eminently for the position he holds in this community.
HENRY BOUWMAN, a native son of Allegan county, was born in Fill- more township February 12, 1876, and is descended from Holland ancestry. His parents were Hendrick and Jennie (Liesman) Bouwman, both natives of the Netherlands, and when young people they came to the new world, the father making the voyage across the Atlantic in 1865 and the latter in 1867. They were married in Fillmore township, where they located, Mr. Bouwman becoming the owner of forty acres of farm land there. Upon the old homestead property they reared their family, numbering the following named: William, Grace, Jennie. Henry, Martin, Gerrit, Frederick, George, Johannas, Burt, and two who died in childhood. Of these six of the number are still in Allegan county,
Henry Bouwman spent his boyhood days in his parents' home and at the usual age began his education in the district schools, where he mastered the common branches of learning. He was still quite young when he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits and in fact he has from his boyhood days worked diligently at farm labor. He is now the owner of a tract of land of fifty acres in Laketown township, upon which he has resided since 1900. The farm was formerly the property of Lucas Vos, who sold it to Mr. Bouwman. The land is rich in its possibilities, responding readily to the care and labor that is bestowed upon it, and in his work Mr. Bouwman displays unfaltering energy, perseverance and laudable ambition. He raises crops of a general variety and finds a ready sale on the market for whatever . he produces.
On the 14th of October, 1899. occurred the marriage of Mr. Bouwman and Miss Jennie Heerspink, a daughter of Johannas Heerspink. Unto them were born three children-Richard, Johannas and Jennetta. Mrs. Bouwman was born in Laketown township November 20, 1876, and thus both our sub- ject and his wife are native residents of Allegan county, where they have a wide acquaintance and many friends.
HON. JAN W. GARVELINK .- Among the many sterling men of Allegan county none stand higher in public esteem than Hon. Jan W. Garvelink, of
.
380
HISTORY OF ALLEGAN COUNTY
Fillmore township, who has been a continuous resident here for the past sixty years, and who has during a goodly portion of that period served his constituents well and faithfully in a public capacity. Time and again he has been chosen to represent the people, the many offices he has held ranging from that of district school officer to state senator. In all of these capacities he has performed his public duties in a painstaking and honorable manner, and his official record, like that of his private life, is one of which any man might well feel proud.
Mr. Garvelink is a native of the Netherlands, where he was born December 6, 1833. His parents were Gexadus and Grada (Aalderink) Garvelink, both natives of Holland, where they grew to maturity and were married. In 1847 they emigrated to America, and, like so many of their countrymen, came to Allegan county, Michigan, where they located in the township of Fillmore. Here they made for themselves and their children a comfortable home and they passed the remainder of their lives here, dying in Holland, Michigan, when just past middle age. This was in 1847, and as the first settlers of Allegan county, six in number, came here in December, 1846, it will be seen that Mr. Garvelink is one of the very early pioneers of this section. Fillmore township was then almost entirely in its virgin state, and to these first comers fell the task of making the place habitable and productive. Jan was brought up on the farm, where he early learned those habits of thrift and industry which were to bring him success in after life. He is today still the owner of the old homestead of eighty-five acres, which his father first settled upon and which is today all cleared and improved, although covered with heavy timber when first purchased.
Politically our subject is a Republican and he has always taken a deep interest in the welfare of his party and the progress of his country. His eminent fitness for public office, coupled with the confidence reposed in him by the people, has retained him as a public servant nearly all his life. His first vote for president was for General Fremont. He has held nearly every township office and was for nearly twenty years supervisor of Fillmore township. He was school director of his district for forty-seven years and is even now a member of the school board. He was a representative in the state legislature in 1873-4 from the third district of Allegan county, and again in 1883-4 he represented the first district of the county in the lower house. The tenth Michigan senatorial district elected him to the state senate in 1891 and in 1893 he was re-elected and represented the new tenth district. In both branches of the state legislature he was known as a conservative and reliable member, serving upon some of the important standing and . special committees.
On July 7, 1859, Mr. Garvelink was united in marriage with Evextion Schrotenboer, who was also born in the Netherlands. This union has resulted in the birth of eight children, as follows: Gexhardus, Johannes, Sysan, Johanna, Grada, Herman, Hermina and Henry. Mr. Garvelink has for over forty years been a member of the Christian Reformed church and has always taken an active interest in its affairs. His has been an industri- ous, useful life, successful in every particular, and he is passing his declining days in comfort, surrounded by a large family, the members of which are doing well in life.
381.
HISTORY OF ALLEGAN COUNTY
HENRY BREUKER is one of the worthy and well respected citizens of Laketown township. Allegan county, where he owns and operates one hun- dred acres of fine land, which is devoted to general agricultural and horti- cultural pursuits. He is a native son of this township, his birth having occurred on a farm in 1860. His parents, John and Fannie (Hoolings) Breuker, were both natives of the Netherlands, the former born in 1826, while the latter was born in 1836. Thinking to enjoy better advantages in the new world. the family emigrated to this country about 1849. The first located in Kalamazoo. Michigan, but after a time went to Grand Haven, this state, where the father secured employment, which might thus enable him to continue his journey into the wilderness and secure a perma- nent home for his family. In 1850 they took up their abode in Allegan county, where the father purchased eighty acres of land, situated in Lake- town township, which was in its wild and uncultivated state, but by his own activity and industry, with the aid of his sons, he soon cleared the land. plowed the fields, planted his crops, and in due course of time reaped abun- (lant harvests. He also further improved the property by the erection of suitable buildings, essential to farm property. In 1871. however-the year of the great fire in Chicago-his buildings were all destroyed, but he im- mediately replaced them by more modern structures and owned one of the well improved farms of this section of the state. He died at his home at the age of seventy-one years, being one of the worthy and highly esteemed pioneer settlers of Allegan county. The widow still survives at the age of seventy. Their family numbers three sons and a daughter: Henry: Burt ; Fannie, the wife of M. Pierse, and George.
Henry Breuker, whose name introduces this review, was reared on his father's homestead, assisting in the work of field and meadow and in the various tasks which fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He acquired his education in the district schools near his father's home and remained under the parental roof until he attained his majority, when he started out in life on his own account, choosing as his vocation the occupation to which he had been reared. At that time, in 1881, he likewise established a home of his own by his marriage to Miss Jane Lemmen, who was also born and reared in the township which is still her home, her natal year being 1861. She is a daughter of Benjamin J. and Fannie Lemmen, who were natives of the Netherlands and. like the Breuker family, became early pioneer settlers of Allegan county, and both the families are members of the Christian Re- formed church at Graaschap. Unto our subject and his wife have been born six children, namely: Fannie, Benjamin. John, Frederick. Burt and Henry.
In the same year of his marriage. Mr. Breuker purchased a farm of forty acres, which he soon placed under a high state of cultivation, and here he gives his time and energies to general farming and fruit-raising. and has been very successful in his latter business, having accomplished what others have been unable to do-raising a fine quality of peaches, which demand a good price on the market-for the land situated north of the Kalamazoo river is not usually considered as adapted to the raising of good peaches. He has improved his farm with good buildings, and altogether has a well improved and valuable property. He is an enterprising and pro-
382
HISTORY OF ALLEGAN COUNTY
gressive citizen, and gives active co-operation to every movement which tends toward the advancement of his home locality.
JOHN H. LEMMEN, of Laketown township, is one of the pioneer set- tlers in the Holland settlement near Graafschap, where he took up his abode in 1847. He has since resided in that locality and has demonstrated the value that the Hollanders and Germans who come to the new world are, and do make good and loyal citizens. Mr. Lemmen was born in Germany near the Holland border, September 15, 1826, and was a son of George and Fannie Lemmen, who were likewise natives of Germany. The father died in that country, and the mother afterward came to America with her son, B. J. Lemmen, in 1858. She remained a resident of the new world for about eighteen years and passed away in 1876. Her children were B. J., J. H. and Lamadine. The last named came to this country in 1853.
John H. Lemmen was reared to farm life in his native country, and the public school system there provided him with his educational privileges. Throughout his entire life he has carried on agricultural pursuits and has met with a gratifying measure of success. Thinking to enjoy better busi- ness opportunities in the new world he braved the dangers of an ocean voy- age at that carly day and came to the United States in June, 1847. Making his way into the interior of the country he became a resident of Allegan county and followed farming in the employ of others until 1850, when he purchased a tract of land now embraced within his present farm. It was then in its natural or primitive state, being still covered with the forest growth. The tract had first comprised but forty acres, but he soon after- ward added an additional forty. Resolutely he undertook the task of clear- ing and developing this land and his efforts resulted in the acquirement of a profitable and attractive farm. His buildings are modern and convenient and are framed in a setting of green fields that makes the scene altogether attractive.
Mr. Lemmen was united in marriage on the 10th of December, 1853, to Miss Lammigje Vredeveld, a daughter of Bert and Alice Vredeveld, by whom he has had ten children, seven of whom reached manhood and womanhood, namely: Gerrit, Benjamin, Alice, Henry, deceased ; Frederick, Leonard and John H. Three died in childhood. Alice is now the wife of Egbert Myland and they have one child. On the 10th of December, 1903, Mr. and Mrs. Lemmen were surrounded by their six children and twenty- five grandchildren, and a host of well wishing friends who joined them in celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage. It was a most enjoy- able occasion to all present and one never to be forgotten by those who participated therein.
Mr. Lemmen has held the office of highway commissioner for five years and has been a member of the school board and served as its treas- urer for three years. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Christian Reformed church, to which his wife also belongs. Almost sixty years have come and gone since he arrived in Allegan county, at which time nearly the entire surface of the county was covered with a dense forest growth that extended from its eastern border to the lake. It was in that year that the city of Holland had its beginning, and he has wit- nessed its growth from a mere hamlet into a thriving metropolitan center
383
HISTORY OF ALLEGAN COUNTY
with large commercial and manufacturing interests. He has seen, too, the wild land transformed into fine farms, well adapted for dairy interests and for the growth of cereals and fruit, and the entire district has been trans- formed, being made to bloom and blossom as the rose. In the work of development Mr. Lemmen has borne his full share and he well merits the success that has come to him as he has carried forward his own business interests.
JOHN H. SLENK .- For more than half a century John H. Slenk has resided upon his farm in Laketown township, not far from the village of Graafschap, and in the years which have come and gone his labors have wrought a wonderful transformation in the appearance of his place. Like the majority of the residents of this part of the county who settled here in the middle of the nineteenth century he is of foreign birth. He first opened his eyes to the light of day July 7. 1828, in that part of Germany which closely borders the Holland line, so that the distinction between the people of one country and the other is obliterated. His parents were John and Henrietta (Putter) Slenk, also natives of Germany, in which country they died. Their children were seven in number, five of whom came to this country : John Henry, Grace. John, Gerrit, Jane, John H., Gecena, all deceased but our subject.
John H. Slenk, of this review, was reared to the occupation of farming and has made it his life work. The first Hollanders had been residents of Allegan county for only two years when he left his native country and came to Michigan, crossing the Atlantic in 1849. He spent the first six years in and near Kalamazoo, where he was employed at farm labor, and in 1855. when his work had brought him some capital, he made purchase of eighty acres of virgin soil near Graafschap, in Laketown township. Not a furrow had been turned or an improvement made upon the place. but he soon cleared the land and erected suitable buildings thereon. The farin today indicates to the observer the care and practical experience of the owner, who has converted his property into one of the best farms of the locality.
On the 16th of November. 1855, Mr. Slenk was united in marriage to Miss Gertrude Rusker, a native of Holland, who was born January 5. 1833. and came to this country in 1848. They have become the parents of twelve children : John; Gerrit: Henrietta, deceased : Kate: Cena; Jane : Grace : Henry, deceased : Jennie : Maggie, and Annie and Gertie, twins. Of these Kate married Mr. Tien : Cena is Mrs. Scholton ; Jane is Mrs. Scrotenboor : Jennie is. Mrs. Durker ; and Maggie is Mrs. Plassman.
Mr. Slenk and his family are members of the Christian Reformed church, in which he has held the office of deacon for twenty-two years, and in the work and upbuilding of which he has taken an active part. In 1905 he and his wife celebrated their golden wedding, surrounded by their chil- dren, grandchildren and many friends, having traveled life's journey together for a half century, sharing with each other its joys and sorrows. adversity and prosperity, and they are still spared to each other. They are moreover numbered among the pioneer settlers of the county and have wit- nessed this section of the state emerge from primeval conditions to become one of the leading agricultural and horticultural regions of Michigan, in
384
HISTORY OF ALLEGAN COUNTY
which connection Mr. Slenk has borne his full share in the work of develop- ment and progress.
JOHN KOLVOORD, owner and proprietor of the Hamilton Mills, at Ham- ilton, Michigan, is one of the well known citizens of Allegan county. Com- ing to this place in his boyhood, he here grew to maturity, and has been prominently identified with the development of its principal industries. He has done much to develop the interests of his town and has represented the (listrict one term in the state legislature.
Mr. Kolvoord was born in Holland, Ottawa county, September 2, 1852, and is a son of John and Griety ( Blink) Kolvoord. The elder John Kol- voord came from Holland-of which country he and his wife were both natives-in 1846, and located at Holland, Michigan, where he built and operated the first gristmill in that part of the state. Here he continued until his death.
In 1864, when but twelve years of age, our subject came to Hamilton, in company with his mother. At that time no timber had been cut between that point and Allegan, and the forest abounded in wild game. Amid these surroundings our subject grew up, attending school when he might and working in the sawmills. In 1878 he established a general store, conduct- ing that business for three years, and in 1881 building a sawmill, which cost him seven thousand dollars. For a number of years this proved to be a very lucrative venture, but in 1891, timber having become rather scarce, he established a gristmill in connection, and operated the two for several years. Later he rented the sawmill, which was afterward practically de- stroyed by floods. He rebuilt, however. and now leases the property to Hagels, Kamp & Company. The gristmill is of fifty barrel capacity, and is kept in operation the year round, the product being largely consumed in the neighborhood, although shipments are sometimes made to distant points.
Mr. Kolvoord's marriage occurred, in 1877, to Gezina Teravest, a native of Holland, who died in 1884, leaving two children ; John, who assists his father in the mill; and Jennie, wife of A. J. Klomparens, of Coopers- ville, Michigan. In 1885 our subject formed a second union with Jennie Akaersook, a native of Illinois, and to this union has been born one daugh- ter, Florence, who resides with her parents.
Mr. Kolvoord holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he is a Democrat, and in 1890 was elected state representative on that ticket, serving a term of two years, as has been before mentioned. His term of service was one of loyalty to his constituency, and he proved him- self to be capable and trustworthy. Locally he has served for a number of years as a member of the school board. On the social side Mr. Kolvoord is a member of the K. O. T. M. at Dunningville.
LAMBERT J. KLINKERS. postmaster at Hamilton, Michigan, is a native of the Netherlands, and emigrated to this country in 1867. He is a son of Tohn L. and Eva (Mansen) Klinkers, both natives of Holland, who settled in Ottawa county, Michigan, in which county John L. Klinkers resided until his death, Their family numbered the following children : Helen, Tinnie, Lambert J., Jane, Maggie (deceased ), William, and Hattie (deceased ).
Our subject first located in Zeeland, Ottawa county, and worked as clerk in a local store. He next moved to Allegan county, and established
385
HISTORY OF ALLEGAN COUNTY
himself at Fillmore Center, where he clerked in a store, except for a few months which were spent in Muskegon. Later he came to Hamilton, and in the spring of 1883 moved to South Dakota, where he resided for about four and one-half years. At the expiration of this time he returned to Hamil- ton, and remained in the store until June 18, 1897, when he received his appointment as postmaster, and in that capacity he has served continuously since.
Our subject was married, April 27, 1886, to Julia Hindes, a native of New York state, who is mother of the following children : Eva, Mac. Louis, Edward and Margerite.
Mr. Klinkers is a Republican and a prominent man in the affairs of his party. being a party leader of capacity and good judgment. He is a member of the Republican County Central Committee, and was chairman of his township committee. The confidence in which he is held is shown by the fact that he has been township clerk for twelve years, in addition to being a member of the school board and a school director.
He is a member of the I. O. O. F. Lodge No. 315, at Hamilton, and the K. O. T. M. at Dunningville, and is loyal to the spirit of fraternity exempli- fied by these lodges.
JACOB L. HOEKSEMA, manager of the Zeeland Brick Company's plant, near Hamilton, Michigan, was born near Holland, Michigan, May 16. 1870. and is a son of Lubertus and Trintje (Luidens) Hoeksema, who live near East Holland.
The brick plant which Mr. Hoeksema manages was started in 1883 by P. Oosting, and later run by Mr. Van Ark until it was purchased in 1890 by the Zeeland Brick Company. It was a small venture at that time- about one-third of its present capacity-and in 1891 the present engine house and first dryer were built, and later a second dryer and sheds were erected. It has a capacity of thirty thousand brick per day, and employs about twenty men when running at its full output. This business is owned by Veneklasen Brothers, who run plants in addition at Kalamazoo, Zeeland, and Cloverdale. Our subject entered the employ of this concern in 1888 and worked for them in Zeeland for four years, then came to the Hamilton plant, where he has worked since. At that time one of the Veneklasen Brothers acted as manager of the works, at this point, and Mr. Hoeksema acted as sub-manager. but since 1900 our subject has been in full charge and has proven himself a capable and trustworthy manager.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.