Albertus VanderHaar, a prosperous general farmer, highly respected citizen,and the Township Clerk of Holland, Ottawa County, was elected in 1879 Justice ofthe Peace, and for twelve consecutive years ably discharged the duties of theoffice and gave general satisfaction to the entire community among whom he sowisely administered the law. Mr. Vander Haar, a native of the State and county,was born on the same farm which he now so industriously cultivates in the year1850. His parents, well-known residents of the township, were Walter andHenrietta (Deweord) Vander Haar. The father was a son of John and Mary (Groothuis)Vander Haar. The paternal grandfather owned land, upon which he conductedsuccessfully a dairy business. He reared to usefulness a family of eightchildren, five of whom emigrated to the United States. Hein resides in Holland;Grace is the wife of John Visscher; Elizabeth, deceased was the wife of A.Venema; and Jane H. married Mr. Vandeberg, of Holland. Walter, the father of oursubject, remained with his parents until he had attained to mature years. Hereceived a good common school education, and as he grew older determined to makehis home in America.

In 1846, in company with a brother and two sisters, all single, Walter VanderHaar sailed for the United States. Possessed of but little means, the partyembarked on a sailing-vessel and were seventy days crossing the ocean to NewOrleans, where they finally landed safe and sound. Ina short time Walter madehis way to St. Louis, where he spent one winter, working by the day. He thenjourneyed to Michigan, and, locating in Holland, bought eighty acres of land ofDr. Van Raalte. Afterward selling that farm, the father purchased the onehundred and forty acres of valuable land where our subject now makes his home.The land, then partially cleared, is now one of the finest farms in this sectionof the country, and presents an appearance of thrift and prosperity. In 1848Walter Vander Haar was united in marriage with Henrietta, the daughter of Albertand Jennie Deweord, natives of the Netherlands, who came to the United Stateswith their family in 1847. The mother had been well educated in her native land,and, a woman of ability and fine character, was well fitted to assume the caresof a family.

Six children blessed the home of the parents. The eldest, Albertus, is oursubject: Mary married G. Smeeng; the others are John, Jeanie, Christina (marriedto A. J. Bolks) and William. The father and his wife were active members of theReformed Church of Holland, and wee ever ready to lend a helping hand inreligious or benevolent work. Politically a Republican, he took a deep interestin Governmental affairs, and, identifying himself with all the vital interestsof his American home, was deeply mourned as a true citizen when he passed to hisrest in 1874. The mother, yet surviving and hale and hearty, makes her home withour subject, who took charge of the farm after the death of his father. Mr.Vander Haar has added twenty acres to the original homestead, has planted out alarge space in celery, raises grain and other products, and rents a portion ofthe land. He received a good education in the district schools, and as a privatecitizen and in the conduct of public offices entrusted to his care has provenhimself a man of high principle and executive ability.