USA > Michigan > Ottawa County > History of Ottawa County, Michigan with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 22
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It was decided to raise nothing for roads and bridges, or town
expenses, and the next meeting was held in Zeeland. Mr. Post was continued as supervisor in 1852-3-4-5. In 1856 he retired, and Hendrick Van Eyk was elected and Jacob B. Bailey, Clerk. In 1857 the vote on County Seat showed 169 for Grand Haven, and 46 for Eastmanville, and the supervisor was reelected.
In 1858, there were 337 votes cast, a majority of which were for John Roost for Supervisor, who was reelected in 1859-60. In 1861 Bernardus Ledeboer was elected Supervisor, 421 voters being pres- ent, and Mr. Roost, Treasurer. Ledeboer was reelected by 221 votes to 220 for Roost at the following election. Ledeboer was re- elected in 1863-4-5-6. In 1867 B. Grootenhuis was elected Su- pervisor, and was reelected in 1868-9.
In 1870 Wiepke Diekema became Supervisor, and reelected in 1871-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-80-81.
In 1881 the officers were: Wiepke Diekema, Supervisor; Isaac Marsilje, Clerk; Daniel Yonker, Treasurer; John Ten Have, School Inspector; Rense A. Hyma, Superintendent of Schools; Charles Schilleman, Justice of the Peace; Tammo Dykema, Commissioner of Highways.
The first settler in the township was Gilbert Cranmer, now re- siding near Kalamazoo, who came in before the Hollanders. Isaac Fairbanks came in 1845 within three miles of Holland, in Allegan township. Rev. Smith, the Indian Missionary, got well paid for en - tertaining the Hollanders when they came. H. D. Post came in Aug. 20, 1847.
This township is similar in size to Olive, being ten miles from east to west and six from north to south. It lies on the lake shore south of Olive, and contains Black Lake. It has Ventura P. O. in the northwest corner, New Holland in the northeast, and New Gron- ingen in the east, and in the northeast corner Noordeloos P. O. It contains 37,000 acres. It is essentially a "Holland" township. The land north of Black Lake is pine and hemlock; in the east and south the land is higher, and bears hard wood. At the last census Holland had 3,064 inhabitants.
The first religious worship was held in the open air, a large liemlock stump answering for the pulpit, while the trunk and limbs answered for seats for the audience. During the summer and fall of 1847 the colony was so reinforced as to number several hundred, with six church organizations and several schools.
The first wind mill was built in 1852, by W. K. Flietstra, at the head of Black Lake, to drive a saw mill, and had tolerable suc- cess, but it cost too much to repair.
PAPER CITIES.
Two cities were projected at the mouth of Black Lake, where it was thought trade would center. On the south side " Portsmouth" was merely a paper organization. On the north eastern capitalists, with Capt. Macy at the head, in 1835 commenced to found the city of " Superior," built a road to Grand Haven and to the mouth of the Kalamazoo river, put up a steam mill, ship-yard, built a schooner, and H. Knox built a tannery; but Macy was killed at Kalamazoo and the town died, the machinery was removed from the mill, and the inhabitants " folded their tents like the Arabs, and as silently stole away."
NORTH HOLLAND.
The settlers were at first held together by a strong religious sympathy, and Van Raalte was their leader, bothi temporal and spir- itual, his preaching nerving them to endure. In 1848 they erected their church, and the same year Oswald Vanderhuis, a wealthy Hol- lander, put up a saw mill at the head of the lake, and Wm. Flietstra erected the famous wind mill that would not work, to carry a gang of saws; a grist mill was also put up between Holland and Zeeland. At this time the colonists were under the greatest obligations to
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HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY.
Alfred Plugger, a noble-hearted Hollander, who advanced money to help others, to be repaid when they could. He lost nothing by this in the end, and died Nov. 1, 1864, with the love and benedictions of all.
In 1847 the settlement in North Holland began. Van Raalte told J. Vantongeren that the Indians reported good land to the north, and directed him to search for it. He, with Jan Van Dyke, after following the trail for five miles, found the land and returned to report. In the winter of 1849-50 Jan Vantongeren, Gerrit Van Dyke, his sons Jan, Jacob, Albert and Otto, and his two daugliters, all unmarried; Coenrad Smidt and family, Jan, Peter, Coenrad, Wil- liam and Arent, and Jan Stag Sr. and Cars Weener, came in and built log houses, bringing in one stove, four men drawing it on a hand-sled. Next year Jan Spykerman and Jan Veldheer followed. They cut a road from Holland the first winter. The first church was a small frame, now part of the parsonage. In 1856 Herman Grebel, of Grand Rapids, taught their first school. Arent Smidt says he took two days to come from Holland with a team, which stuck in the mud the first night.
In 1860 the first church was built, but a church had been or- ganized since 1851. E. C. Oggel was first pastor, in 1866. In 1870 B. Van Ness succeeded. Then there were 80 families, now there are over 130. The settlement has, by industry and thrift, been a success.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
R. KANTERS was born in the Netherlands Jan. 5, 1826; settled in Holland, Mich., Sept. 26, 1862. Not only Mr. Kanters, but his father and grandfather, were engaged in jetty work for the govern- ment before coming to the United States, which occupation he has followed since his immigration here. It was he who made the jetty breakwater in Lincoln Park, Chicago, and now (1881) has a large government contract on the same line in Texas. He lias been largely identified in the government of Holland City, and is thor- oughly known throughout the community for his liberality, business and social qualities. He married April 5, 1849, Christina Roos, who was born May 20, 1822. They have eight children: Margaret T., born June 21, 1850; Abraham M., Aug. 10, 1851; Leendert T., March 19, 1853; Maria C., May 7, 1855, died Oct. 29, 1869; Rokus A., Feb. 23, 1857; John D., March 15, 1858; Gerardus A., Jan. 21, 1864; Jennie R., June 21. 1866; Adrianis K., adopted son of Girardus Roos, born Jan. 15, 1849.
ISAAC CAPPON. Among the self-made men of this locality, no one is entitled to greater credit for his untiring energy and perseverance than the subject of this short sketch. Born in the Netherlands Jan. 13, 1830, he early sought a home and his fortune in the United States. He found his way to Rochester, N. Y., in 1847, and re- mained a year, when in 1848 he settled in Holland, Ottawa, County, Mich. In 1849 he was a laborer in the tannery of Mr. Pfanstiehl. In 1856 he commenced the same business on his own account (see history of the Cappon & Bertsch Leather Company) and now owns the principal interest in the largest tannery in the State. Mr. Cap- pon has been largely identified in the government of the township and city, having been Mayor several terms, on the Harbor and School Boards, etc. He was married Sept. 18, 1854, to Catherine De Boe, who was born in the Netherlands Feb. 5, 1835.
JOHN ROOST, the present Mayor (1881) of Holland City, was born in Harderwyk, Holland, Oct. 9, 1823. He left his home in the Netherlands about the same time so many of his countrymen were seeking their fortunes in the new world, for in 1847 we find him enrolled as a citizen of Holland Township, Ottawa County,
Michigan. By trade Mr. Roost was a wheelwright, which he fol- lowed at Holland and Grand Rapids for two years, then carried on the wagon making and blacksmith business at Grandville till 1854, when he settled permanently in Holland and engaged in the same business. In 1858 he was elected Supervisor for Holland Town- ship, and reelected in 1859-60. In 1861 he was elected County Treasurer on the Republican ticket in a strong Democratic County. He was appointed post master in 1861, and in 1862 was appointed U. S. Enrolling Officer and Assistant Assessor. In 1870 he was a member of the State Legislature.
MANLY D. HOWARD, the subject of this sketch, was born in Her- kimer County, N. Y., Aug. 31, 1817, and moved to Chautauqua Co., in 1826. He graduated at the State Academy at Fredonia, in 1835. He read law in the office of O. W. Moore, of Ann Arbor, and al- though he was never admitted to the Bar has ever done a large amount of legal business. In 1854 he made Ottawa County, Mich., his home and followed lumbering, being the owner of a saw mill till 1867. Since which time he has followed his profession coupling with it insurance and real estate agencies. He was Representative for two terms in the State Legislature, and a Justice of the Peace for a number of years, and at the present is the owner of quite an amount of real estate. He married in 1846 Sarah Stevens Bard- well, daughter of a prominent silk merchant of London, England. Mr. Howard traces his genealogy to Earl Douglas Howard, of Ver- mont, who settled in Herkimer County, N. Y., in about 1800 and died in 1820.
WM. BUTKAU, born in Germany May 26, 1830. Settled in Hol- land City, Michigan, in 1867, engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes. In the same year he was burned out losing his all, bare- ly escaping with his family. Rebuilt the next year and was again burned out in the great fire of 1871. Rebuilt and commenced the butchering business, which he still continues, owning the large city meat market on 8th Street. He has enjoyed a large share of the confidence of the citizens of Holland, for he has held the several offices of Constable, Marshal and Alderman. He married Dec. 22, 1854, Mary Schrader, who was born March 30, 1827, and died Aug. 17, 1858. Second marrriage Dec. 27, 1859, to Mary Lutzan, who was born in Germany Oct. 17, 1827, and died Aug. 16, 1873. Third marriage, Dec. 28, 1873, to Meta Wieck, who was born in Germany March 28, 1840. He has four children.
MARTIN DE BOE was born in the Netherlands March 19, 1837. Emigrated to Holland, Michigan, in 1847. He was a carpenter by trade. In April 1861, he enlisted as private in the 3rd Michigan In- ยท fantry, discharged on account of wounds received at Fair Oaks, May 31, 1862. Recovering from his wounds he was soon after elected 1st Lieutenant in Company I., 25th Michigan Infantry. Promoted to the Captaincy February 1863, was wounded at Nashville, Dec. 16, 1864, but served until the close of the war, in all over four years. Upon his return he resumed his trade and is now engaged with Cap- pon & Bertsch. He married Nov. 2, 1859, Jane Goodluck, who was born in the Netherlands Feb. 12, 1838.
AREND VISSCHER. The father of this subject, Jan Visscher, was born in Genemuiden, Province Overisel, Netherlands, on the tenth day of May, 1817, and his mother, whose maiden name was Geesje Van Der Haar, was born in the same place on the fifth day of Aug. 1820. These were united in marriage on the second day of May 1841, and thereupon for some four or five years they engaged in mer- cantile business in their native place. Restraint in the free exercise of their religious convictions, want of advantages for the liberal ed- ucation of their children and the reasonable certainty that remain- ing where they were neither they nor their children could rise above their present condition, caused them to look around for a home and country which would in these respects offer them better facilities.
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HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY.
Their attention was drawn to America, whither also their former pastor, the Rev. A. C. Van Raalte was intending to go, and as they believed, under Divine direction, they set sail on the fourth day of October 1846, accompanied by five of their brothers and sisters, and after a voyage of seventy-two days arrived in Baltimore, Md., late in December of that year, whence they proceeded to St. Louis, where they remained some six weeks and where another party of Holland emigrants united with them. While here they received correspond- ence from Rev. Van Raalte, who requested them to join him in Michigan, whither they proceeded and arrived there during the latter part of March 1847, since which time they have fully identified themselves with the colony, being especially interested in the re- ligious and educational interests of the community. They readily availed themselves of the opportunities Hope College offered them, where by their united and untiring efforts they had the pleasure to see their four sons, William, Arend, John and Johannes W., gradu- ate, who each of them afterwards have been enabled to take a pro- fessional course. Their daughters, Lemmie, Mary and Senie, likewise received a liberal education. The parents now reside in Holland Township, one mile south of Holland City.
Arend Visscher was born Oct. 3, 1849, at Holland Township, on section 34, graduated from Hope College in the year 1872, and' completed his legal course at Michigan university, from which he graduated the 25th day of March, 1875, when he opened a law office in Holland City. On the 27th day of November, 1879, he was united in marriage with Miss Annie Van der Sluis, of Holland City, a daughter of one of the early settlers, but who, owing to her father's early death, was kindly offered a home by her uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. K. Schaddelee, from which she was taken to her present home about one mile south of Holland City.
B. J. VENEKLASEN was born in the Netherlands June 24, 1828, settled in Holland, Ottawa County, June 14, 1847, on section 27. He and his father were the first to establish brick making in the then Holland Colony, in 1850, which he still, in connection with his sons, carries on, on section 13, making 5,000,000 bricks annually. He married Feb. 29, 1852, Alberdina Woording, who was born August 15, 1831. He has ten children :
Jan, born Dec. 10, 1853; Roelof, born June 10, 1856; Albertus, born August 10, 1858; Hendrik, born March 10, 1861; Pieter, born June 17, 1863; Lydia H., born August 29, 1865; Benjamin, born Sept. 12, 1867; Albert, born July 17, 1870; Gerrit. born April 21, 1873; Maria G., born Oct. 16, 1875. His father, Jan Hendrik, was born March 25, 1799, and died in Holland, Michigan, November 15, 1875.
TEUNIS KEPPEL was born in the Netherlands, June 9, 1823, ar- rived in Holland, by way of St. Louis and Chicago, March 17, 1847, having made the journey from Chicago on foot. He was among the first settlers known as the Holland Company in this part of Michi- gan. He followed farming until 1872 when he became a dealer in lumber, lath and shingles, which he still continues. He was the first City Marshal for Holland, has been a Justice of the Peace for years, and on the school board for 19 years. Mr. Keppel has been twice married, first May 7, 1848, to Geertrue G. Blommers, who died Sept. 23, 1873. Second marriage, May 31, 1876, to Mrs. J. M. W. Oggel, daughter of Dr. A. C. Van Raalte.
EDWARD J. HARRINGTON. George Harrington, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Onondaga County, N. Y. Nov. 17, 1807, he married Margaret Van Alstine, of Holland descent, who was born in Charlestown, near Albany, May 27, 1810. As early as 1846 he settled in Fillmore Township two and one-half miles south of Holland City, where the old people still reside. E. J. Har- rington was born July 30, 1832. Being one of the first settlers and having been reared in this locality, his popularity may be known by
his having been Supervisor, Township Treasurer, Justice, etc., of Fillmore Township, and Mayor of Holland City. He has been prom- inently identified in all the improvements of his city since the build- ing of the first house. It was he who built the first brick store in the city, also the first steamboat dock on the lake, and in the build- ing up of the city in every direction he has done as much as any other man. He has also been a large real estate dealer, having han- dled as much as 18,000 acres. He married Sept. 6, 1853, Matilda. Harrington, who was born June 27, 1832. He has five children.
HENRY D. POST came to Holland shortly before the Hollanders, when it was a dense wilderness, and was of great service to the col- ony, acting for many years as Supervisor of the township, Justice of the Peace, and in other official capacities. He has ever been foremost in all that could advance the welfare of the city and vicin- ity. He is still actively engaged in business, and enjoys the confi- dence and respect of the whole community. He has a Collection, Insurance and Real Estate Agency, and is U. S. Commissioner. His son, John C. Post, has a law office in the same place.
E. F. SUTTON was born in Buffalo, N. Y., Sept. 14, 1842. He settled in Allegan County, Mich., in 1869, and in connection with a brother owned and operated a saw mill till 1873, when he settled in Holland, Ottawa County, owning and operating the City Brewery till 1879, when he sold out and now carries on the City Bottling Works in connection with a saloon on 8th Street. He married May, 31, 1877, Emma Burnett. They have three children.
ROELOF A. SCHOUTEN was born in the Netherlands Dec. 5, 1835. He graduated at the Haarlem Medical College June 29, 1865. Soon after he engaged as a physician on board a vessel, in which position he remained three years, visiting the East Indies and other places. In 1869 he sought a home in the United States, settling in Holland, Ottawa County, Mich., where in connection with the drug business, he is still practicing his profession. Not contented in traveling in the beaten paths of his profession, Dr. Schouten has discovered and is the sole proprietor of the very popular family med- icines known as Dr. Schouten's Compound Syrup of Rhubarb, Cough Balsam and Anti-Bilious and Expectorant Pills, which are being introduced very rapidly in all sections of the country. Dr. Schouten has been four years city physician, and three years health officer in Holland. He appears to have sprung from a race of phy- sicians, for his grandfather on his mother's side was not only a physician but a professor elect in the University at Amsterdam. Also his father, two uncles and four nephews belong to the profes- sion. His father, who was born in the Netherlands, April 18, 1809, is still practicing in his native country.
J. ELFERDINK was born in the Netherlands April 2, 1835, and settled in Holland City, Mich., in 1854. His first labor was in a glass furnace, but for a long time has worked in a tannery and at present is engaged in the Cappon & Bertsch tannery. He married Dec. 4, 1859, Mrs. Elizabeth E. Smith, of Oswego County, N. Y.
PETER SLOOTER was born in the Netherlands Nov. 6, 1834, and settled in Holland in 1854. He followed sailing on Lake Michigan till 1874, and was master of the schooner Mary, schooner Woolen. schooner Tri-color and schooner Arrow. He is now working as tanner and currier with Cappon & Bertsch. He married Feb. 1, 1861, Dina DeBoe.
JOHN HUMMEL was born in Germany, March 16, 1839, and set- tled in Chicago in 1865, following the occupation of tanner. In 1867 he settled in Holland and is an owner in the Cappon & Bertsch leather company. He married April 7, 1869, Hannah Jaeger, who was born in Germany March 12, 1840.
ALBERT ZUIDEMA was born in Erie County, N. Y., Sept. 1, 1857, He early learned the trade of a currier, which he follows with Cappon & Bertsch at Holland, Ottawa County, Mich.
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P. J. DOYLE was born in Dublin, Ireland, Aug. 6, 1831, and settled in New York April, 1852, engaging as tanner and cur- rier. In 1853 he went to Boston, Mass., and in 1856 settled in Holland, Mich., and is engaged as foreman in the currying depart- ment of Cappon & Bertsch. He married Jan. 23, 1854, Adelia Fagan, who was born in Ireland March 17, 1832, and has seven children.
R. E. WERKMAN was born in the Netherlands June 24, 1855. He settled in Holland City in 1867. He engaged in 1871 in the planing mill of which he is half owner, and also has a fruit farm a mile west of Holland. He is foreman of Fire Company No. 1, and president of the Lyceum Hall Association.
A. M. BURGESS was born in Waukegan, Ill., March 30, 1837. In 1868 he learned the trade of photographer, which occupation he still follows, having an extensive business on 8th St., Holland. He married in 1871 Kate E. Thomas.
JAMES KONING was born in the Netherlands Nov. 2, 1833, immi- grating to Holland, Mich., in 1848. He has been engaged for a term of years in the mercantile business, but is now foreman in the large stave and heading factory of Joseph Fixter. He married Nov. 8, 1855, Cecilia Albers.
F. J. ORT was born in the Netherlands July 23, 1848. He was educated at the University of Utrecht and obtained the degree of Doctor of Roman and Modern Law. He also received a classical ed- ucation at his native place. He settled in Holland, Mich., in 1874, and is following his legal profession.
FRANK R. BROWER was born in the Netherlands Jan. 10, 1835, and settled in Ottawa County, Mich., in 1847. By occupation is a sailor. At present he is the owner of the steam tug Twilight, and is having a steamer built in Grand Haven, the "Henry F. Brower," to ply between Holland City and the mouth of Black Lake, for the accommodation of excursion parties. She is 68 feet long, 14 feet beam, 6} feet depth of hold, propelled by a forty-horse power engine and capable of carrying with safety a hundred passengers. Mr. Brower has been twice married, first, Oct. 1, 1858, to Jane E. Benstead, who died Jan. 15, 1862; second, in Nov. 18, 1862, to Louisa E. McKnight.
JOHN COATSWORTH was born in Missisquoi County, Quebec, July 3, 1815, and settled in Ingham County, Mich., in 1839. He engaged in milling and merchandise till 1865, when he settled in Holland, Ottawa County, Sec. 30, and is engaged in cultivating all kinds of small fruits.
WILSON HARRINGTON was born in Onondaga County, N. Y .. July 10, 1838, and settled in connection with his father's family in the vicinity of Holland City in 1846. He has always followed farm- ing and dealing in real estate, and now lives about a mile south of Holland. He married Dec. 15, 1861, Lucy A. Green.
JOHN ALBERTI was born in the Netherlands Sept. 5, 1837, and settled in Iowa in 1856, and in Holland, Mich., in 1864. He worked on a farm till 1868 when he commenced the livery business, which he still follows on 9th Street, Holland. He married May 31, 1865, Antji Broersma.
WM. H. DEMING was born in Columbia County, N. Y., Oct. 19, 1817. He settled in Grand Rapids, Mich., in 1856, building and operating a foundry. He settled in Holland in 1859, and built his large foundry on 10th Street, where he is still operating, being the only foundry in Holland.
G. J. BOONE was born in the Netherlands Feb. 28, 1831, and settled in connection with his father's family in Holland, Mich., in 1847. He engaged in general work till 1855, when he purchased a farm. In 1857 he purchased and ran the first eight-horse power threshing machine introduced in the Holland Colony. In 1866, he
and partners built their saw mill on Sec. 23, where he continues to do business. He married Nov. 27, 1859, Jantji Broek.
CHAS. A. DUTTON was born in Windsor County, Vermont, March 12, 1828. He settled in Erie County, N. Y., in 1851, and engaged in wagon making; thence in 1864 to Niagara County, N. Y., and engaged in raising small fruit. In 1872 he settled on Sec. 33, Holland Township, and is engaged in farming and raising all kinds of small fruits. He married Aug. 2, 1854, Martha Sleeper, who was born in Stanstead, Canada, Dec. 27, 1831, and died in Novem- ber, 1881.
GEORGE T. McCLUER was born in Kent County, Mich., Nov. 6, 1846; worked on farm till he was twenty years old, then learned and worked at carriage painting till 1874, since which time he has been engaged in the sale of Singer's sewing machines, having charge of the business in Holland and vicinity. Enlisted Jan. 13, 1865, in the 21st Michigan Infantry, and served till the close of the war. Married Feb. 13, 1867, to Amelia P. Anderson. His father, Orrin McCluer, was born in Rutland, Vt., and settled at Grand Rapids in 1836, and now lives at Berlin, Ottawa County, Mich.
HEIN VAN DE HAAR was born in the Netherlands, Nov. 25, 1821. In 1847, in connection with the large emigration of his countrymen, he settled in Holland, Mich. In 1853 he went to California, re- maining till 1864, when he visited Europe, returning to Holland in 1865, when he engaged in the butchering business, which in con- nection with selling paper he still continues on 8th Street.
JACOB KUITE was born in the Netherlands, Oct. 24, 1838. Set- tled in Holland, Mich., May 12, 1849. Labored at general work till 1858, when he engaged in lumbering on his own account. In 1864 he purchased a schooner, and acted as mate on her for three years. In 1871 he commenced butchering, which he still continues, running a market on 8th Street, Holland. Has been Dept. City Marshal, Constable, and is at present an Alderman in Holland City. Married in 1857 to Jennie Slooter.
ANNEUS J. HILLIBRANDS was born in the province of Drenthe, Netherlands, March 7, 1821. Having received a liberal education in his native country, he early entered the profession of the teacher. In 1845 he visited Rochester, but returned to the Netherlands and was married Dec. 31, 1846, to Johanna M. Maassen, who was born Oct. 28, 1820. He and his wife returned to the United States and settled in Holland, Ottawa County, Mich., in 1848. In 1851 he went to Sheboygan County, Wis., and taught at Oostburg six years. Returning, he continued his profession in Holland till 1871, at which time he retired from his profession.
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