Biography of Gust Begeman Gust Begeman. It matters little what vocation a man selects as his lifeoccupation so long as it is an honorable one. If he is an honest, upright man,courteous in his intercourse with his fellow-men, and possessed of the averageamount of energy and perseverance, he is bound to make his occupation afinancial success. Because the subject of this sketch is possessed of all theabove requirements is the chief reason he has succeeded; because he is above theaverage in point of business qualifications is the reason that he today standsamong the prominent men of the county. He is at present the most efficientSupervisor of Blendon Township and discharges the duties of that position in avery satisfactory manner. He was born in the city of Berlin, Germany, May 8,1862, and is the only child of Conrad and Minnie (Coleman) Begeman, natives ofGermany. The father came to America in 1862 while the war cloud hung darkly over theNations, and settled in the village of Allegan, Allegan County, Mich., where hewas engaged in brick-making until his death, in 1873. He was twice married, andwas the father of three children by his first union: Fred, Sophia and Minnie,all now married and living in Germany. The mother of our subject had also beentwice married, first to a Mr. Coleman, by whom she had four children: Augusta,who married Joseph Sickinger, and resides in New York City; Ernest, who residesin Germany; William, who died in Allegan in 1892, and whose family now residesin that town; and Minnie, who resides in New York City. The parents of thesechildren were upright, enterprising citizens and won many friends wherever theymade their home. The subject of this sketch was but one year of age when his mother died, andbefore he had reached his twelfth year he was left fatherless. He reallycommenced life for himself at the early age of seven years and worked first atone thing then another, attending the country school as opportunity offered.Until eighteen years of age he worked on a farm and then learned the trade ofmarble-cutter, which he followed for six years. In 1884 he moved to his presentlocation, Bauer, and established a general store, which he conducted until 1893,when he sold his stock of dry goods and groceries to M. W. Otto. He was firstelected Township Treasurer in 1888, re-elected in 1889, and in 1890 was madeSupervisor, to which position he has been re-elected each succeeding year. In the year 1886 Miss Maggie Bauer, a native of Trier, Germany, born January2, 1864, became his wife. She is the daughter of Nicholas and Barbara (Tibald)Bauer, also natives of the Old Country. Mr. and Mrs. Bauer came to America about1860 or 1870 and settled first in Grand Rapids. Being a wagon-maker by trade, heestablished a wagon-manufacturing shop there and was engaged in a successfulbusiness for some time. He then sold his city property and moved to GeorgetownTownship, Ottawa County, Mich. The postoffice of Bauer, established on the linebetween Blendon Township and Georgetown, was named in his honor. He residedthere and made wagons for many years. On the 1st of July, 1891, hesold his interest in this place and now resides on a small farm in GeorgetownTownship. He and his wife are the parents of three children, as follows: Maggie,the wife of our subject; John and Kate. To Mr. and Mrs. Begeman have been borntwo children: Bernie B., born October 6, 1888; and Albert W., born September 29,1890. Mr. Begeman was formerly a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows(I.O.O.F.), but does not affiliate with the lodge at present. He was a member ofHome Lodge No. 290, I.O.O.F., of the town of Allegan. Politically, he has alwaysbeen a strong Democrat. |
Created: 12 August 2002