Wybe Nienhuis Portrait and Biographical Record, Pgs. 565, 566 WYBE NIENHUIS, the senior member of the well-known firm of NienhuisBros., the individual members of which are Wybe and Abel J. Nienhuis, is one ofthe prominent business men of the town of New Holland, Ottawa County, Mich., andone of the most successful merchants. He is a native of this county, and the sonof John and Magdalene (Dykema) Nienhuis, both natives of the Netherlands. JohnNienhuis came to America in 1856, and came immediately to Michigan, settling inOttawa County when the country was still a wilderness. He brought his familywith him, and they suffered all the privations and hardships incident to pioneerlife. There were no public roads at that time, and Mr. Nienhuis would take hisgrist to mill on his back. Of course his farm was unimporved, almost awilderness, and he went actively to work to clear and make a home. This was hardwork, but he persevered and was beginning to see his way through, when his deathoccurred. This was in 1862. Mrs. Nienhuis afterward married Henry Van Arendonk,another of the early settlers, and she is still living, being one of the oldestpioneers of the county. By her first husband she became the mother of fourchildren: Eildert, of this county; Jane, wife of Johanus Hassevoort; Wybe andAbel J. Her second union resulted in the birth of three daughters: Cornelia, thewife of John Posthumus, of Grand Rapids; Henrietta; and Gertie, the wife ofHenry Troost. Wybe Nienhuis secured a fair education in the common schools of the county,and when twenty-two years of age began working on a farm for wages. Later hebegan farming on his own and on rented land, but when twenty-three years of agehad an opportunity to clerk in a store, and this continued until he wastwenty-nine years of age. He then embarked in his present business, generalmerchandising, and justly merits the large measure of success achieved by hisgood judgment and excellent acumen. This was in 1886, and he commenced with asmall cash capital, but his average sales amount to from $12,000 to $15,000annually at the present time. He and his brother are wide-awake andthoroughgoing, and keep on hand a choice selection of goods. They employ oneclerk, who thoroughly understands his business and is ever attentive andpleasant to the numerous patrons. Besides this store, the brothers are theowners of forty acres of land, which they have under a fine state ofcultivation. The store building is 24x60 feet, two stories high, with a dwellingoverhead, and Mr. Nienhuis also owns a fine two-story residence, one of thehandsomest in the county. He was married in 1880 to Miss Bertha C. Smith, a native of this county, anda daughter of Conrad and Grietje (Sterken) Smith. She was the eldest of threechildren, the others being Lena and Conrad, the former the wife of GarrettStigenga. To Mr. and Mrs. Nienhuis were born live children: John, Conrad, Lena,Henry and George. Mr. Nienhuis is one of the promising young men of the county,and in every walk of life has conducted himself in an honorable and uprightmanner. For four years he filled the office of Township Clerk, and in the springof 1893, he was elected Township Trustee. He is alive to matters of publicimportance, and deeply interested in the success of the Democratic party, withwhich he has ever been identified. Abel J. Nienhuis, junior, member of the firm, and a young man of more thanordinary business ability, was educated in the common schools of Ottawa County,and when twenty-six years of age engaged in the present business. The brothersare equally interested in the business, and display excellent judgment in itsmanagement. In the year 1887, he was married to Miss Jennie W. Rooks, a nativeof this county, and the daughter of Albert and Joannah Rooks, natives ofHolland. Mr. and Mrs. Rooks came to America at an early day, and here rearedtheir seven children: Garrett; William; Anna, wife of Bert Knooihuizen; JennieW., John, Cornelius and Lena, at home. Mr. and Mrs. Rooks were members of the North Holland Dutch Reformed Church.Mr. Rooks died in 1873, and Mrs. Rooks afterward married Rheinder Bultema, bywhom she had one child, Herman. Two children were born to Abel J. Nienhuis andwife, Maggie and Albert. Mr. and Mrs. Nienhuis hold membership in the NorthHolland Dutch Reformed Church, and he served as School Inspector in 1883, beingre-elected to that office in 1893. Politically, he is a strong advocate of theplatform of the Democratic party.

Portrait & Biographical Record ofMuskegon & Ottawa Counties, Michigan 1893, Chicago: Biographical PublishingCompany Pg. 288, 291

Transcriber: Susan Gates Davis
Created: 13 January 2003
URL: Biographies