Kasper Lahuis Pg. 473-474 - During the forty-six years that havepassed over the head of the gentleman whose name stands at the head of thissketch since his locating in the United States, he has witnessed many changes inthe country, and has not been merely a ‘looker on in Venice’, but a citizenwho has through his enterprise, his integrity and his perseverance, contributedhis full share to the development of the section in which he resides, which isone of the most magnificent in the State. He was born in Hanover, Germany,September 14, 1828, a son of Berrend and Geesje (Beld) Lahuis, who were alsoborn in Hanover in 1792 and 1793, respectively. The youthful days of Berrend Lahuis were spent on a farm which belonged tohis father, but he also learned the trade of a carpenter, and these twooccupations he continued to follow throughout his live, becoming the owner of asmall tract of land. He and his wife reared a family of four children: Hermanes,who still resides in the Old Country; Aaltje, deceased; Triute, a resident ofAllegan County, Mich.; and Kasper, the subject of this sketch. Berrend Lahuiswas a man of deep religious nature, and was an Elder in the Reformed Church atthe time of his death, which occurred in 1863. His widow survived him until1879. Kasper Lahuis received better educational advantages than the average boy ofhis day, and being an intelligent youth he made rapid progress in his studies.When not employed in pursuing the paths of learning, he learned the carpenter’strade of his father, at which occupation he labored in his native land until hisremoval to the United States in 1847. He came alone to Ottawa County, Mich., andtook up his residence at New Groningen, and here he was united in marriage withMiss Fennigje Kamps, a daughter of John and Hilligje Kamps, all of whom wereborn in the Netherlands. After following his trade for some time, he purchased aforty-acre tract of land, which was totally unimproved, and to this smallpurchase he has added until he now is the owner of a fine farm comprising twohundred and ten acres, nearly all of which was in a wild state at the time ofhis purchase. With the aid of his sons he has cleared and improved this land,and in his long and arduous labors, he found a true helpmate in his kind,energetic and hard-working wife. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Lahuis ten children were born, who are in orderof birth as follows: Geesje, Mrs. Joseph Baareman; John, a resident of thiscounty; Berrend, who resided on a farm; Albert, who resides in Zeeland; Hannah,the wife of Henry Reif, of Chicago, ILL; Gerrit; Fannie, the wife of John DePree,of Zeeland; Kasper, Jr., and two who died young unnamed. Kasper, Jr., theyoungest son, attended Hope College, and after teaching school for four yearsbegan the study of medicine in the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where hehas been for one year; John, Berrend, Hannah and Albert also received theireducations at Hope College, the latter finishing his education in the StateNormal School at Ypsilanti, and upon graduating received a State Certificate toteach. Mr. Lahuis deserves great credit for the way in which he has surmounted thedifficulties which have strewn his pathway and also for having given hischildren good educational opportunities. He has ever been a wide-awake man ofaffairs, industrious, pushing, enterprising and law-abiding, and the liberalmeans which he is now enjoying have been acquired by his own good management. Heand his wife are members of the Reformed Church of Zeeland, in which he has heldoffice for the past twenty-five years. He has been Highway and DrainageCommissioner of his township, and politically he is a stanch Prohibitionist.