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PHILIP HEYBOER Philip Heyboer. Many of the most active and enterprising residents of the State of Michigan have come from Holland, and here have spent the greater part of their lives. In them may be found true loyalty to their adopted country, and they understand, as though it were intuition, the needs, social and industrial, of this vicinity, and have a thorough knowledge of its resources. They are therefore well adapted to succeed in life and make useful, progressive and law-abiding citizens. Philip Heyboer was born in the south of Holland and is a son of Peter and Wilempis Heyboer, who were born, reared and married in Holland. The early life of the father was spent on a farm, but he also managed to learn the Baker’s trade, and after starting out to fight life’s battles for himself, he followed that occupation as a means of livelihood until his removal from the land of his nativity to the United States of America in1846. He was a man of frugal and industrious habits, and accumulated sufficient means to bring his family, which consisted of his wife and two children, Kate (Mrs. R.A.Vogel) and Philip, to this country with him, and to provide for them in a comfortable way. He did not long remain in the East after landing, but wisely made his way Westward, Ottawa County, Mich., being his objective point, and in due course of time he found himself with all his possessions at Grand Haven, Mich. Leaving his family at that point, he made his way on foot to Holland and, being pleased with the appearance of the country, he purchased forty acres of land, and after settling on it with his family, like the majority of early settlers who made for themselves a home in the wilderness. "He cut, he logged, he cleared his lot, He gave up his trade and gave all his attention to farming and the sawmill business, but in time opened a general store in the vicinity of the home, in connection with his son Philip, and this occupation received his attention for about seven years. Since then he has been retired from the active duties of life and in the enjoyment of means which his early industry brought him. Philip Heyboer received a fair education in his native land, and at the time of his parent’s removal to this country he was in his fifteenth year. After reaching Ottawa County he could do little at first to assist his father on the home place, so accordingly secured work elsewhere, and in this manner assisted in supporting the family. In addition to this he saved sufficient means to a purchase a yoke of oxen, which he gave to his father. At the early age of nineteen years he was married to Mary Weitfeldt, who was also born in the Netherlands, on the island of Flakkee. When nine years old she was brought by her parents to this country, and here she grew to womanhood. Her union with Mr. Heyboer resulted in the birth of seven children, but two died young, those living being Peter, Matthew, Lizzie, Maggie and Katie. After Mr. Heyboer’s marriage he lived with his father for a number of years, and during this time he purchased forty acres of land in connection with a brother-in-law, bit his share in this land he disposed of and purchased forty acres of another tract. To this he added forty acres at one time and sixty acres at another, and now has in all one hundred and twenty acres of as good farming land as can be found within the confines of Ottawa County, and which is well improved with substantial buildings, fences, etc. He is a member of the Reformed Church, is a Republican in politics, and has held many local offices in his township, being the present efficient Township Treasurer. |
Portrait & Biographical Record of Muskegon & Ottawa Counties, Michigan 1893, Chicago: Biographical Publishing Company
Transcriber: Charles Armstrong
Created: 6 May 2003
URL: Return to Bios Index