Holland City News, Saturday, February 14, 1874

Today we are called upon to record the departure of another one of our pioneer settlers, Mr. Frederick Jan Van Lente, who died Tuesday last, at 4 o’clock, A. M.

Mr. Van Lente was born in the city of Zwolle, Holland, in the year 1800. In 1847, he joined the tide of emigration that left its native shores to find a home in America’s wilderness. He came direct to this section of the country, and built his first log house on the very spot where he breathed his last. His family consisted at that time, of himself, his wife, and seven children; one of his sons died a year after their arrival, while the remaining ones are today all living, and have settled in and around the city. For a time he followed his old trade of cooper, while in the early days many a log cabin was supplied with his hand made shingles. But he is best known to this people by the humble position he occupied as leader of the congregational singing, with which he was charged from the time of his arrival until lately, having occupied for more than twenty-five years, the same post in the "old log church," as well as in the present First Church. Under his leadership was organized the "Van Lente Choir," which still exists; and his place is now filled by one his sons, John Van Lente.

And here we think it is proper to relate that his recollections and sound memory are due to a great extent our present relief from the heretofore existing survey troubles, as we ourselves had occasion to witness in the days when Mr. Tinkham was making his survey of the city in 1869.

His helpmate, Mrs. Van Lente, died in the year 1870, and his failing in strength and vivacity, commences to date shortly after this event. During the last two years he suffered from dropsy, and his last days were marked by severe suffering. The funeral took place on Thursday afternoon, in the First Church, and was conducted by the pastor, Rev. R. Pieters. At the request of the deceased, the pallbearers were taken from among the members of the "Landelijke Vereeniging," a rural literature society, of which he was a member. A large concourse of people testified to the esteem in which the departed was held, while it is worthy of mention that around the corps of this venerated father, there were gathered no less than 43 children and grandchildren.

(Buried in Pilgrim Home Cemetery)