History of Ottawa County, Michigan with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers.

q
I

I

HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY.

87

-

I

HOLLAND CITY LODGE, NO. 192, I. O. O. F.
The brethren in the City of Holland and vicinity belonging to
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows by card, and as Ancients,
having in personal conversation deemed it advisable in order to
further the fraternal interest of the order and each other, to organize a lodge, held their first meeting at Masonic Hall on the evening
of March 26, 1872, for the purpose of taking preliminary steps towards organizing the same. The following brothers were present:
A. G. Clark, C. Van Landegend, S. L. Morris, Millard Harrington,
John Kramer, W. I. Scott, T. D. Powers, and Otto Breyman. S. L.
Morris was made Chairman, and Otto Breyman Secy: The following, being eligible, signed the petition for an organization of a lodge
of I. O. O. F. in this city: S. L. Morris, A. J. Clark, Millard Harrington, John Kramer, C. Van Landegend, Otto Breyman, and T. D.
Powerse The following were named in the petition to be its first
officers:
S. L. Morris, N. G:; A. J. Clark, V, G.; M. Harrington, Secy.;
John Kramer, Treas.
S. L. Morris and M. Harrington were designated a committee
to forward the petition to the Grand Master.
For the basis of organization, the constitution and by-laws of
Richland Lodge No. 32 was adopted.
On the evening of July 18, 1872, the lodge was duly organized.
Most Worthy Grand Master, F. H. Rankin, called the Grand Lodge
to order, and appointed David E. Rose, of Ottawa, Grand Warden;
W. N. Angell, of Ottawa, Grand Conductor; J. C. Breyton, of Ottawa,
Grand Secy.; Geo. W. Griggs, Grand Marshal, at which time Holland City Lodge, No. 192, I. O. O. F., was regularly instituted. At
the same meeting the following persons were elected to become
members of the lodge: Gerrit Doesburg, N. W. Bacon, R. K.
Heald, Charles Chambers, Ira Woltman, John Ailing, John Everhard, and Alien Wilton, of whom the first six were duly initiated,
receiving all the degrees. The receipts of the evening were $114.
The present officers are: Wnm. H. Rogers, N. G.; A. McDonald,
V. G.; M. Harrington, Recording Secy.; Otto Breyman, Treas.
Since the organization of the lodge two deaths have occurred-Cornelis Blom and John- Ailing, who were interred according to the
rites of the order. In connection with the lodge, the Euretha Lodge
of Daughters of Rebecca was effected Oct. 26, 1877, by W. N. Bacon,
Dept. Grand Master, assisted by other proper officers. Its first
officers were: A. J. Clark, N. G.; Mrs. Euretha Clark, V. G.; Mrs.
J. A. Higgins, R. S.; Mrs. Olive Blom, Treas.; Thomas McMaster,
Warden; Mrs. Mary Odell, Conductor; George Coder, O. G.; John
Krusinger, J. G,; Mr3. Mary Coder, R. S. to N. G.; William Blom,
L. S. to N. G.; Mrs. Annie Krusinger, R. S. to V. G; Mrs. Mattie
Butkau, L. S. to V. G.
HOLLAND SCHOOLS.
Mr. I. Marsilje, Clerk of Holland Township, has published in
the City News of July 25, 1874, a history of School District No. 2
of Ottawa Township, which then included Holland, from which we
extract the following:
The original warrant calling the first district meeting is addressed to John Binnekant, notifying him that the school inspectors
have organized a new school district, No. 2, and requiring him to
notify electors to attend the first meeting in the Holland Church on
Section 28, on the 29th of June, 1848, and was signed by the pres

ent Senator Ferry as Clerk.
At this meeting the officers elected were A. C. Van Raalte,
Moderator; H. D. Post, Director; W. J. Mulder, Assessor.
July 17th, a meeting was held to select site and arrange for
building a school house. Dr. Van Raalte, on behalf of the Trustees
of the village of Holland, offered to donate a site, which offer was

I

-

accepted, and $800 voted for a building; but after, it was found to
be illegal to raise more than $300 in any one year.
On Aug, 22, the Board were authorized to employ teachers to
keep school in the church until the school was built. The first
teacher was Ira Hoyt; school census, 179.
On March 21st Miss E. H. Langdon was engaged as teacher at
$5 per month. On Sept. 29th the census shows sixty-nine families
in the district. The average cost of tuition was $1.50 per quarter for
eachpupil. The Legislature in 1850 authorized the borrowing of
$1,200 for building the school. In 1851 the school yard was fenced
and trees planted. In 1852 W. T. Taylor, of Geneva, N. Y., taught
the school. H. Doesburg was elected Director in 1853, and in 1854 J.
Van Luyster was Moderator, Dr. Van Raalte Director, and T. Keppel Assessor. E. P. Pitcher, teacher; school census, 178. Rev. J.
Van Vleck, assisted by E. Winters, taught in 1856, and C. Hofman
was elected Director and C. Doesburg Assessor. The latter, now
professor of modern languages in LHope College, was teacher from
1856 to 1866. Prof. Downie, of North Muskegon, was principal
several years. The present principal is Prof. I. Bangs, who has
held the position since 1878.
The High or graded school was organized in 1860. The first
Trustees were Dr. Van Raalte, T. Keppel, A. Plugger, C. Doesburg,
G. Wakkez, and J. Binnetka. The fine new school house was built
in 1880. School-tax in 1880, $4,500. School census, in 1879,
895; in 1880, 911.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
There are now two hand fire engines and two volunteer fire
companies, Eagle, No. 1, and Columbia, No. 2. The Eagle engine
is a Button machine, piano box, purchased before the fire of 1871,
by George Lander, then chief, for $400. The Columbia engine is
also a second-hand engine purchased by John Kramer for $500.
The fire engine was brought out in the great fire, which was like
Mrs. Partington trying to sweep back the Atlantic with a broom.
The city has been free from fires for the last few years. There are
no water works, although the question of such works is discussed;
they now depend upon drive wells and cisterns. The Chiefs were:
George Lauder, John Kanters, Leonard Kanters, and now John
Beukema. The Foreman of Co. No. 1, is R. E. Werkman, Jacob
VanPutten, Asst. Foreman;-of No. 2, P. Kleiss, with G. J. Dunkeloo, Assistant.
THE RAILWAY STATION
was built in the summer of 1881, the station master is Henry C.
Matrau, an efficient and obliging officer who has been in office for
over ten years. The first agent was Martin W. Rose, the next J.
R. Keun. The train despatcher is F. O. Nye.
THE POST OFFICE
was established in 1848 with Mr. DeBruyn as first post master,
who was followed by H. D. Post, John Roost and Wm. Verbeck,
who took office Nov. 13, 1866, and still remains in office. Money
Order Branch established August, 1870.
THE LYCEUM
was incorporated April 9, 1879, for library, lyceum and scientific
purposes, for which was erected a commodious building on 8th St.
The first officers were R. H. McBride, President, G. Van Schelven,
Secretary. The present officers are J. Kuite, President; J. C. Post,

Secretary, and C. L. Waring, Manager. They have a stage, scenery, and a seating capacity of 500. They have had several lecture
courses but have as yet no library.
THE PRESS.
Holland is well supplied with newspapers, having three Dutch

J9

II

I '
i
l:

I
9
i
L
9,

L

I

-_ o

--