Benjamin F. Barendsen Benjamin F. Barendsen.--Among the successful self-made men of Grand Rapids is Benjamin F. Barendsen, who hails from the far away country of Holland, where his birth occurred on the 4th day of July, 1870. He is a son of Lambert and Clara (Stegerman) Barendsen, both natives of Burkelow, Holland. The father for many years was a teacher, but in later life a tiller of the soil. The family came to the United States when Benjamin F. was two years old, locating first in Grand Rapids and later at Kelloggsville, ten miles southeast of this city, where the parents still reside. Lambert and Clara Barendsen reared a family of eight children, the subject of this sketch being the fourth in number. The others are Clara, wife of Edward Van Hooven; Denah, wife of Simon Wersma; Matilda, wife of Ora Deman; Mary, who married James Mastenbrook; Gerritt H.; Betsey and Ann, the last three still with their parents. Benjamin F. Barendsen was educated in the common schools and high school of Grand Rapids, and has passed the greater part of his life in this city, variously employed, his attention during the last eight years being given to the legal business as notary public. In his official capacity he is kept constantly busy by demands upon him for general conveying, drawing up legal papers, renting houses and business buildings, collecting rents, etc., his transactions far exceeding in volume those of any other similar office in the city. As a counselor and legal adviser Mr. Barendsen is recognized as possessing exceeding clear judgment, and but for his advice much litigation involving large monetary interests and heavy costs would be carried through the long, tiresome processes of the courts. For this and other practices Mr. Barendsen has called down upon himself some adverse criticism, but the rectitude of his intentions in all of his professional transactions has never been questioned by the leading members of the bar or by the majority of the people of the city. Financially his success has been commensurate with the energy and ability displayed in his business transactions. He has accumulated a handsome competence, including a fine block on Bostwick street, reprensting a value of $20,000, a comfortable home and two other residence properties, all of which is the result of his own industry and unaided efforts. Mr. Barendsen was married in Grand Rapids November 1, 1892, to Miss Amanda Eby, of Canada, a union blessed with one child, Bryan Gladstone, who was born on the 16th day of October, 1893. The political faith of Mr. Barendsen is represented by the democratic party, and fraternally he belongs to the A.O.W. and K.O.T.M.