Holland City News, Saturday, April 30, 1887

Martinus Bongaerts, an old settler of this locality and one of the "soldier boys," died last Wednesday at the Soldiers Home in Grand Rapids. His body was brought to this city yesterday morning at the request of a number of the army comrades of the deceased, and the funeral will occur at the Methodist church on Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock. Addresses will be delivered in both the English and Holland languages. Mr. Bongaerts was 74 years old and came to this locality in 1848 with some of the early settlers here. He was unmarried and while a resident of this city made his home with the family of Mr. H. Meenga.

(Martinus served in the 8^th MI Infantry, Co D and is buried in Pilgrim Home Cemetery)