Johannes Hoogerhyde, the well known wood and coal dealer, with his residence and office at No. 373 Turner street, Grand Rapids, was born in Holland, May 1, 1842. His parents were not at all wealthy, and the only schooling he received was one winter’s term when a small boy. He was reared mainly to farm work, and when twenty years of age came to the United States with his parents, who are now deceased.

On arriving in America the Hoogerhyde family came directly to Michigan, and here the subject found employment on a farm—about the only labor with which he was at all

acquainted. Six or seven months later he secured a place in a planing-mill, made himself very useful and retained the position seven and a half years. He was next employed in a lumber yard for ten years, then went back to the mill, but in the meantime worked for awhile in a furniture factory—all this time learning something of men and business ways.

About eight years ago, Mr. Hoogerhyde started for himself in the wood business, soon afterward adding coal to his stock in trade. He has built up a good traffic, has done his own hauling and delivering, and has been a very busy man, but the result has been very gratifying. On June 14, 1867, he married Miss Delia Ball, a native of Holland, and to this union has been born twelve children, viz: Jennie, wife of Cornelius Gondzwaard, of Grand Rapids, and the mother of three children—Krenie; John and Nellie; Cornelia, deceased; David, in Grand Rapids; Cornelia, deceased; Martin and Cornelius, in Grand Rapids; Cornelia, deceased; John, Cornelia and James, deceased; James and Maria.

In politics Mr. Hoogerhyde is a republican, and his religious tendencies are towards the Holland Reformed church, which he attends, but of which, however, he is not a member.