A history of the northern peninsula of Michigan and its people;. [Vol. 2]

THE NORTHERN PENINSULA OF MICHIGAN

973

and takes a deep interest in the furtherance of the party cause. He is
affiliated with Bethel Lodge, No. 358, Free & Accepted Masons, in the
city of Sault Ste. Marie, where he also holds membership in Red Cross
Lodge, No. 51, Knights of Pythias and Sault Ste. Marie Lodge, No. 552,
Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks.
On the 19th of November, 1890, was solemnized the marriage of Mr.
Bennett to Mrs. Mary (Robinson) Brownlee and they have one daughter,-Helen Margaret. The family are members of the Presbyterian
church.
FRANK H. VANDENBOOM.-Theodore Roosevelt recently said, "Our
civilization rests at bottom on the wholesomeness, the attractiveness,
and the completeness, as well as the prosperity, of life in the country.
The men and women on the farms stand for what is fundamentally
best and most needed in our American life." This fact is rapidly
becoming recognized, and scientific farming is assuming its rightful
position among the leading comnlercial and professional occupations.
An able and enterprising representative of the successful agriculturists
of the Upper Peninsula is Frank H. Vandenboom, the leading dairyman of Marquette county, owning and occupying one of the most
extensive and best-equipped farming estates of Marquette township.
A son of the late Henry Vandenboom, he was born, February 22, 1872,
at Graid Island, Michigan, of Dutch ancestry.
Born in Holland in 1838, Henry Vandenboom came with his parents to Wisconsin when thirteen years of age, and was brought up and
educated in Kaukauna. He began life for himself as a clerk, and
afterward located in Marquette, Michigan. He secured a position as
clerk with W. L. Whitmore & Company, and remained with that firm
several years, first in Marquette, then in Baraga and later at L'Anse.
He subsequently bought land in Marquette township, Marquette
county, and embarked in the dairy business, beginning on a small
scale, with but twelve cows, and continuing successfully until his
death, in May, 1902. He was a man of sterling worth, much respected
by his fellow-townsmen, and took an active part in township affairs,
serving as supervisor seven years, and as a member of the school
board for many terms. He was one of the pioneer charcoal men of
the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. He was a Democrat in politics,
and belonged to the Roman Catholic church. He married Hannah
Ward, who is nows a resident of Duluth, Minnesota, and they became
the parents of nine children, of whom four are now living, as follows:
Mary, wife of L. D. Rose; Frank H.; Henry L.; and Auretia, widow
of C. J. Kelley and living in Duluth.
Brought up on the home farm, Frank H. Vandenboom received
good educational advantages, attending the common schools of MIarquette township, the Marquette Business College, the Farris Institute
at Big Rapids, and the Michigan State Agricultural College at Lansing.
Under his father's wise instructions he began to make a study of dairying
when but twelve years of age, and has since been more or less closely
associated with this industry, although from 1899 until 1905, he was
engaged likewise in the insurance business. After the death of his
father, Mr. Vandenboom assumed full charge of the dairy business,
in this capacity having control of about one thousand acres of land.
He raised his stock from the original number of twelve head to one
hundred head, having now in his herd full blooded Holstein, Guernsey and Jersey cattle. Careful and painstaking, he was the first man
in his community to have his cattle inspected, having it done often