USA > Michigan > Ottawa County > History of Ottawa County, Michigan with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 18
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HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY.
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a biographical sketch of the man who was its guiding spirit. This we are enabled to do by a carefully prepared biography from the pen of one intimately acquainted with the subject.
DR. VAN RAALTE.
Rev. Albertus Christiaan Van Raalte, D. D., the founder of the large settlement of Hollanders in these counties, was born in Wanneperveen, in the Province of Overyssel, Netherlands, on the 17th day of October, 1811. His father was a clergyman of the Reformed Church, a man of considerable local reputation. His mother was of good family from Amsterdam. He grew up in the enjoyment of the advantages which the better European circles afford. He received the usual University course, and graduated in theology at Leyden's famous school in 1834.
His connections were such that nothing needed to prevent his obtaining an advantageous position in an establishment in whichı, as elsewhere, patronage is a chief element in success. His father was a man of more than ordinary ability, and of exemplary godli- ness, and was intimate with not a few of the more influential men in the church, counting among his intimate friends some of the most eminent of the learned circles. Through his mother's ac- quaintance he had the entree into the best society of the metropolis. His home brought him into contact with men of station and wealth. So there seemed naturally to open for him, as a young man of much native talent and force and of good education, a career of profit, comfort and reputation, in the profession to which his parents had early dedicated him.
His life, however, was entirely different from this, and that by his free choice.
Naturally of a lively disposition, with strong feelings, profound in his convictions, determined in will, impatient of restraint, fearless of self-assertion, active, and with a relish for hard work, he was one of the men fitted to feel the peculiar influences of his surround- ings, as they called to self-denial and to an attempt to get out of the rut of his day.
Two years before his graduation his thoughts were led to a more serious contemplation of humanity and its needs, and the special demands of his time and country. Indifference and formal- ism were rife everywhere. Rationalism had crowded out truth from nearly every pulpit. The spiritual and social life of the com- mon people was void of hope. The tremendous influence of an escape to these shores of liberty and of an equal chance for improve- ment had not yet begun to act upon the European masses. Every- thing was at the dead level of an enforced submission. Van Raalte felt the need of more liberty for truth and of a greater concern for the neglected masses.
In the meantime these needs became also gradually more ap- parent to the class most affected by them. A constantly larger number became restless under the existing state of affairs. Inquiry after truth grew prevalent. In many parts of the land appeared the signs of a powerful revival of religion. Young preachers were found to voice the demand for truth, as applicable to the every-day wants of men. Most of these were acquaintances and fellow stu- dents of Van Raalte, but a little his seniors. His father, rapidly declining in life, strengthened him in these nobler thoughts and aims, though he did not live to see his son actively at work.
When Van Raalte left the University he found the religious movement, whose spirit he shared, already well started. He was known as one of its sympathizers. This was enough to lead to the unworthy obstruction of his career by the ecclesiastical authorities through technical difficulties. He had satisfactorily passed the necessary examinations, and held the diploma which made him a licentiate. Hindered in the regular exercise of his call-
ing, he gladly gave himself to those who had by this time inaugu- rated a movement for a more independent ecclesiastical organiza- tion, and was ordained as a regular minister by the first Synod of the Free Church of the Netherlands, and stationed as pastor of the combined churches of Genemuiden and Mastenbroek.
Before assuming this charge he was married to Miss Christina Johanna de Moen, of Leiden, a woman in every way fitted to share his eventful life.
In this first charge he labored under great difficulties but with abundant success. The demand for gospel labor among the masses increased rapidly; the men to supply it were few. To Van Raalte gradually fell the spiritual care of the whole Province of Overyssel, and his time was spent in almost daily preaching in different sec- tions; organizing new churches and superintending their affairs. This necessitated his removal to a more central point, from whence he could more conveniently reach all parts of his large field, and in 1838 he removed to Ommen, where he lived for six years.
The religious movement in which he and others were then engaged encountered not only the antagonism of the established church, but the enmity of the government, which sought to crush it by force. Van Raalte also abundantly experienced the hardships of those trying times. Often were his audiences scattered by an armed constabulary or the military power. Frequently he was cited before local courts, which punished what were declared to be illegal assemblages by fines. More than once he was imprisoned. The insults of the mob and the contumely of the better classes were ordinary experiences. Obedience to his convictions required the sacrifice of nearly everything that he had highly prized or hoped for, and the acceptance of what was at best a life strange and dis- tasteful to one brought up in his circumstances.
Gradually the surroundings improved somewhat. Violence exhausted itself. The field widened. This new movement prom- ised permanency. Preachers must be supplied. To some extent this had already been attempted by giving some theological training to men who, with ardent piety, united natural gifts and showed apt- ness to speak in public. But in 1844 a more regular system of training was begun in the opening of a school for theological in- struction at Arnhem, of which Van Raalte was to be one of the teachers. In consequence of this he removed to this place in the year named.
This school naturally became the centre of the new denomina- tion. Its prospects, difficulties and needs were there most fully known. No one concerned himself more earnestly with these matters, or understood the real difficulties of the situation better than Dr. Van Raalte. The spiritual difficulties of the time were complicated with material wants. The new church was almost exclusively confined to the working classes. The close contact be- tween this part of society and their young and educated leaders disclosed to these latter a great and increasing misery. The decline in material prospects among the middle classes was steadily increas- ing. Men sighed daily more wearily under the burden of taxation, made necessary by the huge debts contracted through the destruc- tive wars of the previous generation. Competition among the over- crowded population, which had not yet found an outlet, grew con- stantly more injurious. Land became more scarce; labor, under the first effort of the introduction of machinery, more superfluous; food, especially after the development of the potato rot, more expen- sive; the threats of political revolutions more alarming; the de- mands upon charity and upon the sober, sound advice of leading men became daily more urgent.
Dr. Van Raalte was the very man to give himself entirely to these burdens. His sympathetic nature and enthusiastic character made him a patient listener to all kinds of complaints, and a willing
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laborer at attempts to remove them. Evidently he did not fully understand the hopelessness of all effort to relieve the troubles of his timely charity. Only experience could teach him and others that. He enlisted others in his work. He spent a very considerable fortune on enterprises designed to help the laboring classes by fur- nishing them work. In that way, however, he only exhausted his resources, while he left the cause of the misery unremoved.
Such troubles were not confined to his own country. All Eu- ropean peoples shared them to a greater or less degree. But the remedy was beginning to be found by the neighboring nations, in a distribution of their numbers to the less settled parts of the world. He was one of the first in his country to see the fitness of that cure, and enthusiastically adopted the idea. Loth at first to break all the ties which bound him to his land and people with their glo- rious history in the cause of freedom and enlightenment, he at first made the attempt to direct the stream of emigration to the rich possessions of Holland in the East Indies. His object not being merely material relief, he thought he might there also find a fit field on which to use profitably the moral and spiritual power of the people, whose cause he had now for a number of years served and to a great extent directed. The government was not favorable to the idea. It evidently dreaded the contact of men whom it had taught to think for complete liberty of thought and action, with the races by whose enforced labor and oppression its own wealth was to be increased. A guarantee for complete religious liberty was denied by the government. Nothing then remained but to bid farewell to the past, and follow the emigration setting in toward America.
[The biographer here enters into an interesting account of the founding of the colony, but as we give that in a separate article, we have taken the liberty of omitting it from the sketch.]
Dr. Van Raalte spent some time in promulgating the new plan, which was favorably received by many, resulting in the formation of different associations for the promotion of emigration and plans of colonizing. Dr. Van Raalte was the pioneer in these movements. In September, 1846, he set sail with his family and a ship load of emigrants and reached New York in November.
Upon the material development of the settlement, other influen- ces besides his had a controlling effect, but upon its moral develop- ment, his influence was during his life unsurpassed, and in this his real greatness is best seen.
He proved his sagacity by three things which should stand as historical monuments among the people whom he safely led.
1st. From the beginning he tried to make his people under- stand that they had broken with the past and with the old world; that their real interest lay here in the land of their adoption and with its people. He set the example at once of being at home here, seeking always larger connections, adopting as rapidly as possible the language and customs of his new father-land himself and in his family. He encouraged the same thing in others, and it is largely due to his influence that the English language became exclusive in the common schools. Keeping up, of course, his intercourse with his friends of the old country, he made them understand that he was an American by choice, and impressed a younger generation in this land with the necessity of losing all clannishness and becom- ing true patriots in this land of their birth and youth, to seek its best interests and suffer for its integrity. No one was a more ardent lover of his country during its days of danger, no one took a livelier or more enlightened interest in all that concerns its welfare and glory.
2d. His keen eye soon saw the danger of isolation to the people whose peculiar experiences in the fatherland had made them un- necessarily suspicious of other men, and somewhat resentful towards differing views. History has often furnished instances of the dan-
ger that men, who have obtained liberty of thinking at great expense, become intolerant towards, others in a disdainful isolation. Dr. Van Raalte early took measures to obviate this danger by connecting the spiritual interests of his people with those of an American church. He himself was no man of narrow theological views, or in- clined to Pharisaical exclusiveness. He could be at home with- Christians of the different sects. He tried to teach his people the value of this wider Christian communion. His influence was suffi- cient to make them trustingly follow his lead, and by June, 1850, through his mediation, an ecclesiastical union was perfected between the churches of this emigration, eight in number, and the Reformed church in America.
3d. Very early he undertook to bring this connection to bear upon the intellectual development of this people. As an educated leader, he knew this to be their weak spot. The hardships of the pioneer State passed, the material progress of this people was to him merely a question of time, which could be safely left to natural influences. To their intellectual growth, however, he knew that special efforts needed constantly to be put forth. The value of learn- ing is not understood by the class among whom it was his destiny to labor. The love of learning is among them a thing of slow growth. Their very prosperity is its insidious foe, since time spent in the acquisition of learning, when it might be employed in the ac- cumulation of wealth, seems lost. He was prepared to encounter opposition and indifference, and set it before himself as a life task to be among the people as an apostle of education. To it he gave freely of his means and never suffered an opportunity favorable to its advancement, to pass unimproved.
After having availed himself of the advantages of the public school system, by organizing different districts, he turned his atten- tion to the introduction of higher education. He spent much time and labor in enlisting the cooperation of prominent men in the Re- formed church in this interest, and by the Fall of 1851, mainly through his instrumentality, a Latin school was opened which grew into what is at present Hope College. Much of his time was occu- pied in attending to its wants. Everything had to be provided- teachers, buildings, students, most of whom needed to be supported by systematic charity sought from day to day. Of this machinery, Dr. Van Raalte was long the only director. This, besides his large pastoral charge, the care of the growing immigration between whose spiritual wants and the American church he was long the mediate agent, and his own large material interests as the owner of large tracts of land, made his life for many years exceedingly laborious.
In 1867, owing mainly to increasing physical disability, he re- signed his charge as the pastor of the 1st Reformed Church of Hol- land, and engaged in a particular effort to encourage and direct the immigration, which after the war of the rebellion set in with new force. He spent some time in visiting various parts of the South, and finally decided upon starting a new enterprise in Vir- ginia. A good location was found in Amelia County; and in 1869 he removed his family thither, retaining, however, his interests at Holland. Some of the residents of the colony in Michigan were in- duced to move thither, but the main reliance was upon immigrants brought directly from the Netherlands. These however proved un- fit for an independent work in a part of the United States where the effects of the recent war and the peculiar Southern institution were still powerful. Two churches were started, and a school for higher education was here also undertaken. Though something was accom- plished which still remains, it cannot be said, upon the whole, that the attempt was a success. In 1870, Dr. Van Raalte returned to Michigan, his health gradually declining. In 1871 the two great trials of his life came upon him in the loss of his wife and the de- struction of the greater part of Holland by fire. By this latter he
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was also involved in the general material loss from which the place has not yet recovered. After this year he slowly succumbed to the disease which had long troubled him and which filled his last days with excruciating suffering. As he was able, he devoted his time to the general interests of the people and especially to the in- stitution, of whose council he was the President until his death, which took place on the 7th of November, 1876.
In summing up a brief description of the man, we may say, he may fairly be classed among the remarkable men of Michigan. No one ever came in contact with him without carrying away the im- pression that there was an unmeasured degree of force in him. Small of stature, his presence was still noble. He had a fine face, reg- ular in its outline, with deep lines of thought, and a twinkle in the bright eye, generally stern and direct-which hinted at a latent humor. Almost always serious and in terrible earnest, he could at times unbend and prove himself a most agreeable compan- ion. He had the faculty of attaching men to him and impressing himself upon them. By his force he silenced opposition where he did not conquer it. By his enthusiasm he often made men believe what they did not fully comprehend. By his marked oratorical gifts he was able to persuade men who differed from him, and fire the hearts of those who believed in him. He was a truly eloquent preacher of the gospel; never trivial, often above the comprehen- sion of uneducated people not accustomed to his way of putting things, but very popular with his regular hearers. As an extempore speaker, when warmed up on his favorite subjects of education or the extension of moral influence, he had but few equals and always carried the day. His capacity for work was great. His views were large and broad. Though he had an impatience of details which sometimes endangered the successful accomplishment of his designs, and a hopefulness of realization which was not always warranted by the circumstances, yet his work in the main was well done and will stand. His name will long be remembered among those who were a real acquisition to this new and great land. .
HOLLAND COLONIZATION HISTORY.
The colonization of the region around Black Lake by Holland- ers, is an important item in the History of Michigan. Begun in the spirit of the old Puritans, its results so far have been felt in the Netherlands and in America.
Some account of the movement which resulted in the settle- ments in Michigan, is given, on the authority of the Rev. Vander Meuler, in connection with the sketch of the history of Zeeland. For the early history of Holland we have availed ourselves of the la- boriously prepared paper of G. Van Schelven, Esq., read July 4, 1876. Mr. Van Schelven has zealously and carefully collected his information; it has stood the test of criticism, having been deliv- ered to the public and published in the papers.
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF HOLLAND CITY AND COLONY.
BY G. VAN SCHELVEN.
In the winter of 1845-6 a meeting of the leading men, favoring emigration, was held in Amsterdam. The times were exceedingly hard, and growing more and more oppressive for the laboring class- es, with little or no prospect of their improvement, and it was felt that something should be done for their relief. The meeting ap- pointed a committee to wait upon the Government with a proposi- ·tion to colonize in the Dutch East Indies, and locate upon the highlands of Java. The reply was that the Government had no authority to sanction such a movement upon the religious basis on which it was proposed. The Cape of Good Hope was the next
point which received their attention, and lastly America was con- sidered.
During the spring of 1846, and before any organization or sys- tem of emigration had been perfected, two persons, Messrs. A. Hart. gerink and J. Arnold, started for this country. Their friends fitted them out for the voyage, and the deacons of the church collected money and clothing for them. They were sent out to make a pre- liminary examination here and report to the brethren in the old coun- try. Dr. Van Raalte gave them the necessary letters of introduction to Dr. De Witt and others. After their arrival they forwarded an extended account of their trip and observations here, which account was favorably received in Holland. It was a voluminous document, the postage on the same amounting to eleven guilders.
In the summer of 1846, the Rev. Thomas De Whitt, D. D., of New York, was sent by the General Synod of the Reformed (Dutch) Church of America, on an official mission to Holland. The extent to which this visit has been instrumental in turning the projected emigration towards America, is difficult to ascertain. Judging from subsequent events, however, it must have had a marked effect upon the enquiring minds of the leaders. In his report to the General Synod, in 1847, he says: "When in Holland I received informa- tion of a rising spirit of emigration to America, and especially among the (Afgescheidenen) seceders from the established church. Soon two important colonies from this class will be founded in the west."
Emigration to America now began to be generally discussed and agitated, and the mind was permanently fixed upon "the West." Texas, Michigan, Wisconsin and Iowa were among the favorite localities.
On the 14th day of September, 1846, an American brig, the "Southerner," of Boston, Capt. Crosby, weighed anchor at Rotter- dam, and carried across the Atlantic the first emigrants destined for this settlement. As they constituted the first Holland pioneers of this colony, we have secured the names of nearly all of them:
Albertus C. Van Raalte, Hendrick Oldemeyer, Frans Smit, Jan Laarman, Egbert Van Zee, Jan Karman, Jan Klaasen, Hendrick De Kruif, Bernardus Grootenhuis, J. Dunnewind, William Notting, Vanden Boogaart, Evert Zagers, Egbert Freriks, Harm Kok, Herman Lankheet, Dirk Plasman.
Most of them were heads of families. After a voyage of forty- seven days they arrived at New York on the 4th day of November 1846, from where they left by steamer for Albany; thence via Buf- falo and Cleveland to Detroit. Here the party scattered for a time, in order to enable Dr. Van Raalte to decide upon his location.
In New York Dr. Van Raalte was welcomed by Rev. Dr. De Witt, Mr. Forrester and others friendly to the Hollanders and their cause. The same can be said of many more in the different cities along his travels; Rev. Drs. Wyckoff, of Albany, and Bethune at Brooklyn; Rev. Dr. Duffield, Hon. Theodore Romeyn, Rev. Mr. West, Gen. Cass and Hon. C. C. Trowbridge, at Detroit; Rev. Mr. Hoyt, at Kala- mazoo; Judge Kellogg, at Allegan, and others.
Owing to the close of navigation, and satisfactory information obtained at Detroit, it was resolved to abandon the heretofore quite prevailing preference for Wisconsin and proceed to western Michigan. The motives leading to this selection on the part of Dr. Van Raalte are perhaps best described by himself in a translated extract from his oration delivered in 1872, on the quarter-centennial celebration of the settlement of the colony.
"Although the Americans recommended the localities near rivers, and in general deemed it too great a hazard to settle here; although the Hollanders avoided the forests, occasioning a great struggle to subject my family and myself to the inconveniences of such pioneer- ing; nevertheless, the combination of so many advantages, although
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HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY.
at first they could be but slowly developed, left me no doubt as to what my duty was. I knew that the rich forest soil is better fitted for the dairy, and for winter wheat; that owing to the manufactur- ing interests and navigation, by far higher market prices could be obtained here than at any place in the west; and that the country near the shore of Lake Michigan was protected by the water from severe frosts, and pre-eminently a region adapted for fruit. I could find no place where similar to those regions along the inhabited rivers, lined with manufacturies and mills, where the tens of thou- sands could find work without danger of being scattered, and where, at the same time, we were certain of an opportunity to continually secure land, without any interference, for a group of settlements. I chose this region, with such decision, on account of its great variety, being assured that if the Holland emigration should develop into a power, we ought to remain together for mutual support, and ought to have this variety for labor and capital, especially for future growth.
"The object of my settling between the Kalamazoo and Grand Rivers was to secure the advantages of both these rivers-for we could not get along without the settled regions-and at the same time to establish a center for a united and spiritual life and labor for God's kingdom.
In company with Judge Kellogg, of Allegan, and an Indian . guide, following an Indian trail, Dr. Van Raalte arrived here for the first time, in the latter part of December 1846. They landed at the house of Rev. G. N. Smith, a Presbyterian missionary among the Indians, located upon section 3, of the township of Fillmore. At this time, the only white settlers in this entire neighborhood, beside Dr. Smith, were I. Fairbanks, Esq., and G. Cranmer. Their near- est neighbor was Mr. A. Shorno, on section 26, township of Fill- more. Mr. Fairbanks lived next to Dr. Smith, and Mr. Cranmer on the farm now owned by Mr. Gerling, northeast of the "Nykerk" Church.
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