Cornelius Westrate – Many of the most active and enterprising residents of Holland Township are natives of the county and have here spent the greater portion of their lives. In these we find men of true loyalty to the interests of this part of the State, who understand, as it were by instinct, the needs, social and industrial, of this vicinity, and who have a thorough knowledge of its resources. They are therefore better adapted to succeed here than a stranger could be, and are probably without exception warmly devoted to the prosperity of their native place.

Cornelius Westrate was born in Ottawa County, Zeeland Township, Mich., is 1849, to the union of Marienus and Johanna (Zoutwel) Westrate, both of whom were natives of the Netherlands. The father learned the carpenter’s trade in his youth, and was married in the Old Country. There six children were born to his firs union. About 1847 he emigrated to the United States with his family, located at Zeeland, Ottawa County, Mich., and there married Miss Zoatwel, who bore him one child, the subject of this sketch. In this township the father bought land, and in connection with farming carried on his trade until 1851, when he was killed by a fall from a house. Of the children born to the first union, the following are now living: Joseph, Nellie, Jane and William. Their mother died in the Old Country. After the death of Mr. Westrate his widow married Matthew Naye, by whom she had one child, Jane Maggie, now the wife of George Lokes.

Until nearly twenty-one years of age our subject remained under the parental roof, and the fundamental principles of education were instilled into his young mind in the common schools. After leaving home he worked out for different farmers in the section for about a year, and was then united in marriage to Miss Henrietta Kloosterman, daughter of John and Fannie (Vink) Kloosterman, natives of Holland. The happy domestic life of our subject has been blessed by the birth of eight children, as follows: Marienus, who married Miss Maggie Depenhurst; Fannie, Johanis, John, Minnie, Peter, Albert and William.

At the time of his marriage our subject had little or no means, and the day after his union he began work in a sawmill at Zeeland, receiving $1.50 per day. He worked for other people until 1875, when he rented a farm for four years. His life of industry and usefulness and his record for integrity and true-hearted faithfulness in all the relations of life have had their effect, and he is now the owner of one hundred acres of land, with good substantial buildings, all erected by himself. He has the respect and esteem of a large circle of friends, and he and his estimable wife are members of the Holland Reformed Church of Zeeland. In politics inclines to the platform of the Republican party. Has held the office of Road Commissioner, and for thirteen years was a school officer.