Holland Sentinel, Monday, May 27, 1918

Took an Honorable Part in Civil War, Retiring With Rank of Sergeant

Death stepped in to take away one more veteran of the Civil War on the very day when his comrades commemorated Memorial Sunday. Sunday morning at about 7 o’clock, John Grootenhuis, one of the best known of the local veterans, passed away at his home on the corner of College Avenue and 7^th Street. Grootenhuis had been ill for about three weeks and his death was not unexpected. The flag in Centennial Park was placed at half mast in his honor Sunday.

Grootenhuis was 76 years old. The funeral will be held Wednesday from the home, Rev. J. F. Bowerman officiating. Internment will take place in the South Side Cemetery. (Pilgrim Home Cemetery) The deceased is survived by three daughters and one sister. His wife died more than 25 years ago.

Mr. Grootenhuis was one of the first to enlist when Company I was organized here in 1862, and he served for the full period of three years, receiving an honorable discharge at the end of the war as sergeant. His brother, who enlisted somewhat later in the 8^th Michigan Infantry, was mortally wounded at Fredericksburg on May 12, 1864.

Mr. Grootenhuis was born in the Netherlands and he came to America with the original settlers. He suffered through all the early hardships here. In recognition of that fact, he was asked a few years ago to lay the cornerstone of the Holland City Hall.

Mr. Grootenhuis’ mother, Johanna Hoogewind, was the only woman who accompanied the first group of settlers from Allegan to this community. For three weeks she cooked for the men in an impoverished log hut on the Vander Haar hill until other shacks had been put up for the other women. Grootenhuis’ father was in many ways Van Raalte’s right hand man. He was a man of many talents and he did the first surveying, laid out the first highways and staked out the first farms.

The deceased will be laid to rest Wednesday with military honors in which his comrades in arms will take part. (July 12, 1841-May 26, 1918)