Biography of Henry Bloecker HENRY BLOECKER Human industry has afforded many striking examples, and amongthe prominent men of Grand Haven, Michigan, who have exhibited those sterlingprinciples of character which lead on to great accomplishments, Henry BLOEKERaffords a striking illustration. He is now the Mayor of Grand Haven, and is aman whose upright, capable and honorable career has won a place in the annals ofOttawa County. In him is wonderfully exemplified the rare abilities and greatpowers of application which have rendered him one of the most distinguishedrepresentatives of Grand Haven's advanced and prosperous industries. He was bornin Germany, September 6, 1845, and inherits all the thrift, enterprise andperseverance of his Teutonic ancestors. His father, Mark BLOEKER, was a Germansoldier for many years. Our subject was educated in his native country, andlearned the trade of a machinist, following his trade as a journeyman andtraveling to many of the principal cities of Germany and France. In 1867 he tookpassage for the United States, and after an uneventful voyage landed in New YorkCity. From that place he came direct to Grand Haven, Mich., and soon foundemployment in the Ferris Ottawa Iron Works, remaining with the same until 1879,when he formed a partnership with John BRYCE, under the firm name of BRYCE &BLOEKER, in the manufacturing of general marine engines and all kinds ofmachinery belonging to tugs, steamers, and, in short, all vessels using steam.This firm continued until the year 1881, when their plant burned and theysustained heavy loss. Later, they reorganized, under the firm name of BRYCE,BLOEKER & Co., and re-built the works on the old site, enlarged themconsiderably, and put in new and highly improved machinery. This business wascontinued under the above-mentioned title until 1883, when it was changed toBLOEKER & Co., and still later to Henry BLOEKER & Co., which is thetitle at the present time. The firm has the best of shipping facilities andduring the busy season from thirty to forty men are employed. The happy domesticlife of our subject began in the year 1868, when he was married to Miss MaryGLAZAT, a native of Germany, but at the time of her marriage a resident of GrandHaven, whither she had moved with her father. To Mr. and Mrs. BLOEKER were bornnine children, eight sons and one daughter; those living are as follows: Hugo,Paul, Fred, Robert, Emma, Ernest and Henry. Those deceased are Erdmann and one.unnamed. Mr. BLOEKER is alive to matters of public importance, and is deeplyinterested in the success of the Democratic party, with which he has long beenidentified. He served four years as Alderman of the First Ward, and in April of1893 he was elected Mayor of Grand Haven. He is President of the National DotareAssociation and German Workingmen's Society, and is a Royal Arch Mason, a memberof Grand Haven Lodge No. 139, and Grand Haven Chapter No. 84. He is also amember of the Maccabees and is one of the leading Germans of Grand Haven. Portrait & Biographical Record of Muskegon & Ottawa Counties,Michigan 1893, Chicago: Biographical Publishing Company Pg. 273

Created: 12 August 2002