Biography of Doeke Bos Doeke Bos. A glance at the lives of the representative men whose names appear in this volume will reveal many sketches of honorable and influential citizens, who have resided many years in this country, but among them none is more worthy or deserving of mention than Mr. Bos, who is a true type of the successful and progressive Michigan farmer. He was born in Holland Township near where he now lives, in 1853, his parents being Tunnes and Creje Bos, and his grandparents, Doeke and Greje Bos. The paternal grandfather, Doeke Bos was in his native land of Holland, when his son Tunnes was about three years of age. He was the owner of a small boat, and while sailing this craft was drowned. Thus Tunnes and his brother, Peter, were left at a tender age to fight life’s battles for themselves, and as soon as old enough, Tunnes began learning the trade of a tailor, which he followed for some time with success; but this occupation was not at all agreeable to his tastes and he gave it up as soon as he could conveniently do so. At the age of eighteen years he entered the German army, in which he remained six years, a portion of the time as a commissioned officer, although he was never in any war. About 184, when in his twenty-eighth year, being a young man of considerable enterprise and energy, he decided to make a home for himself and family in America, his brother, Peter, who died at the age of fifty-seven years, having preceded him about one year Upon the arrival of Tunnes Bos in the United States, he possessed but little means, and after spending one year as a laboring man in the State of New York he came West as far as Michigan and finally found himself in Ottawa County. Inherent in him was considerable pluck, however, and he bravely endeavored to do faithfully and well all honorable work that came in his way, and although the struggle with adversity was at times bitter, it only made him the more determined to succeed, and he kept perserveringly on his way. Soon after his marriage, which occurred when he was quite young, he went to Grand Rapids, Mich., and they together obtained work with the various farmers of the vicinity and by honest industry and frugality their little capital, which amounted to only $15, was greatly increased, and they were soon enabled to purchase ten acres in the vicinity of the city. There they lived and industriously toiled for three years, then came to Holland Township, Ottawa County, and entered eighty acres of Government land, which by perseverance they greatly improved and eventually sold for the snug sum of $1,500. With this money Mr. Bos purchased one hundred and ten acres on section 15, where he now lives, and the improvements which he has put on the place have rendered it very valuable. He and his wife are member of the Reformed Church of North Holland, in which he has been an Elder for a number of years. To Mr. Bos and his wife a family of six children has been born: Doeke, the subject of this sketch; Peter, deceased; Effie, the widow of Abel Nienhuise; Gabrand, and two children who died in infancy. Doeke Bos, the immediate subject of this sketch, grew up in the locality in which he now lives, and upon first starting out in life for himself rented land of his father for one year. He then inherited forty acres of land from uncle’s estate for the care he bestowed upon the latter until his death. To this land he has added from time to time until he is now the owner of one hundred and twenty acres, all of which is carefully tilled and presents a thrifty and prosperous appearance. He made his home with his father until his marriage, which occurred when he was twenty-three years of age, to Martha Nienhuise, by whom he has a family of six children: Tunnes, Hattie, Peter and Martin (twins), Gabrand and Greje. Mr. and Mrs. Bos are worthy church members, and, politically, he is a Democrat, although his father and brother have always been Republicans.