Gerrit Rooks, a successful general farmer, now occupying with ability the office of Highway Commissioner of Holland Township, Ottawa County, Mich., is pleasantly located upon section 36, where he has long prosperously cultivated a fine homestead, annually yielding an abundant harvest. Our subject, a native of the kingdom of the Netherlands and born in the year 1842, was the son of Gerrit H. and Catherine (Hesling) Rooks. The parents were likewise both natives of the Netherlands, in which country the father was born in 1802, and the mother in 1809. The paternal and maternal ancestors, hart-working, intelligent and upright people, by their earnest and persistent toil thriftily gained for themselves and their descendants the necessities of life, but very few of them in their native and land ever acquired a competence.

The father was by occupations a farmer, and was a wood-sawyer by trade, sawmills in his primitive neighborhood being almost unknown. Being a man of limited means, he owned no real-estate, but rented land. In 1856, the father emigrated with his wife and six children to the United States and for forty-two days the family, on board a sailing vessel, were tossing upon the broad Atlantic.

Two of the children had previously crossed the ocean and settled in Michigan, in which locality the parents contemplated making their future home, but their money having given out they were obliged to remain a few months in New York, where the father was enabled by hard work to replenish his empty pocket-book, and the family proceeded at once upon their way to the farther West. The eight sons and daughters of the parents were in the order of their birth: Albert, Gerrit and Lyda, all deceased; Minnie, Gertrude, John, Gerrit, and one who died young. The father had previously to his marriage to the mother of our subject, and by the first wife became the father of two children, John Henry and Hannah. The father was a devout member of the old Dutch Reformed Church and was respected by all who knew him. When he came to Holland he made his house with his eldest son, Albert. He died regretted by many friends, his wife surviving him only one year. Our subject received his education mainly in the Old Country and enjoyed one year’s schooling in the United States.

Mr. Rooks, beginning life for himself, worked out by the month on various farms, and with thrifty prudence gaining a small capital married when about twenty-two years of age Miss Minnie Naber, and unto him and his estimable wife have been born seven sons and daughters, who are in the order of their birth: Peter, Henry, John, Anna, Katie, Albert and Minnie. Of these children three have completed their studies in the excellent schools of Holland, and Anna is now teaching successfully. Two of the sons are in the far West, one living in North Dakota, the other residing in South Dakota. Immediately succeeding his marriage, Mr. Rooks purchased eighty heavily timbered acres where he now lives, and was obliged to go in debt for the same. Today, cleared, highly cultivated and improved with a good residence, barns and sheds, the homestead is one of the best in this locality. Our subject owns ninety acres, all under profitable cultivation and presenting a scene of thrift and plenty. Mr. Rooks is a valued member of the Ebenezer Reformed Church and for fifteen years held an Eldership. Politically a Republican, Mr. Rooks has ably discharged the duties of various school offices and made a most efficient Highway Commissioner, giving great satisfaction to all his fellow-townsmen.