Holland City News, Thursday, March 21, 1929

Peter De Vries, a pioneer and a merchant of the old school, a brave soldier in the War of the Rebellion, passed away Sunday at the age of 85 years. Mr. De Vries was born in the Netherlands and arrived here with his parents in 1856 when he was 12 years old, making the trip on a sailing vessel. Mr. De Vries was a storekeeper in Holland in the early peddle wagon days, and was in company with his brother, Dirk De Vries, who has been dead for many years. Their store, a grocery and dry goods, was located in the building now occupied by Bishop and Raffenaud, on River Ave. and Ninth Street. Later this partnership was dissolved and Mr. De Vries was in the grocery department of the late Gabriel Van Putten’s grocery now conducted by John Olert.

Mr. De Vries enlisted with 48 boys as members of Company I, 25^th Infantry, in the Civil War. They were volunteers from Holland and vicinity. Company I was engaged in 25 battles, not including many smaller skirmishes in which only part of the command was engaged.

With Peter De Vries answering his final taps, Joost Ver Planke, age 84, former Democratic sheriff of Ottawa County and then a resident of Holland, now is sole survivor of the company.

For many years and before the death of Mrs. De Vries, the family lived on West Tenth Street near River Ave., but after his retirement from business 20 years ago, Mr. De Vries has made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Wm. E. Vander Hart, 35 East 19^th Street. Mrs. De Vries died about 25 years ago. Children surviving are: Mrs. A. L. Warnhuis, New York City; Mrs. Newman Smith, Detroit; Mrs. W. E. Vander Hart and Mrs. Jacob Haan, Holland; Benjamin and Albert De Vries, Wapato, Washington.

The funeral services were held at 2 o’clock Tuesday afternoon from the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Haan, 40 West 17^th Street.

Rev. James M. Martin, pastor of the Third Reformed Church, of which Mr. De Vries was an active member, officiating. Burial took place in the family lot, Holland Township Cemetery.