Holland City News, Thursday, November 21, 1918

The Holland Colony lost another of its original pioneers, and the G. A. R. Post of Holland lost another of its few remaining members Monday evening, when death came to Gerrit Hesselink at his farm home about two miles southeast of the city. Mr. Hesselink who was one of the best known members of that community, where he passed the greater part of a long and active life, had reached the age of 76 years at the time of his death.

He was born in the Netherlands, immigrating to America with his parents during his early childhood. He formed one of the original company that set out with Dr. A. C. Van Raalte for America to find a new home in the wilderness of Michigan. Mr. Hesselink has lived on the old Hesselink homestead practically all the time since coming to America.

The Civil War broke out when he was a young man, and he answered the call of the North for volunteers, becoming a member of Co. I, 25^th Michigan Infantry, and serving with credit to himself along with numerous other West Michigan boys from this city and other places in this section of the state.

At the conclusion of the war, he came home to his home community, and since then he has made a home for himself not only, but a place of respect and honor in the community.

The deceased is survived by a widow and three sons, John, Gerrit and Henry; also by two granddaughters who have been living with the grandparents.

The recent death of Mr. Wilterdink, followed as it is now by the death of Mr. Hesselink, removes two Civil War veterans and colony pioneers from the same community, and loses two G. A. R. Post members from a rapidly dwindling company of veterans.

The funeral will be held Friday afternoon at 1:30 o’clock from the home, Rev. E. J. Tuuk, officiating.

(Mr. Hesselink is buried in Pilgrim Home Cemetery.)