KASPER LAHUIS During the forty-six years that have passed over the head of the gentleman whose name stands at the head of this sketch since his locating in the United States, he has witnessed many changes in the country, and has not been merely a "looker on in Venice," but a citizen who has through his enterprise, his integrity and his perseverance, contributed his full share to the development of the section in which he resides, which is one of the most magnificent in the State. He was born in Hanover, Germany, September 14, 1828, a son of Berrend and Geesje (Beld) Lahuis, who were also born in Hanover in 1792 and 1793, respectively.
The youthful days of Berrend Lahuis were spent on a farm which belonged to his father, but he also learned the trade of a carpenter, and these two occupations he continued to follow throughout his live, becoming the owner of a small tract of land. He and his wife reared a family of four children: Hermanes, who still resides in the Old Country; Aaltje, deceased; Triute, a resident of Allegan County, Mich.; and Kasper, the subject of this sketch. Berrend Lahuis was a man of deep religious nature, and was an Elder in the Reformed Church at the time of his death, which occurred in 1863. His widow survived him until 1879.
Kasper Lahuis received better educational advantages than the average boy of his day, and being an intelligent youth he made rapid progress in his studies. When not employed in pursuing the paths of learning, he learned the carpenter’s trade of his father, at which occupation he labored in his native land until his removal to the United States in 1847. He came alone to Ottawa County, Mich., and took up his residence at New Groningen, and here he was united in marriage with Miss Fennigje Kamps, a daughter of John and Hilligje Kamps, all of whom were born in the Netherlands. After following his trade for some time, he purchased a forty-acre tract of land, which was totally unimproved, and to this small purchase he has added until he now is the owner of a fine farm comprising two hundred and ten acres, nearly all of which was in a wild state at the time of his purchase. With the aid of his sons he has cleared and improved this land, and in his long and arduous labors, he found a true helpmate in his kind, energetic and hard-working wife.
To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Lahuis ten children were born, who are in order of birth as follows: Geesje, Mrs. Joseph Baareman; John, a resident of this county; Berrend, who resided on a farm; Albert, who resides in Zeeland; Hannah, the wife of Henry Reif, of Chicago, Ill; Gerrit; Fannie, the wife of John De Pree, of Zeeland; Kasper, Jr., and two who died young unnamed. Kasper, Jr., the youngest son, attended Hope College, and after teaching school for four years began the study of medicine in the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where he has been for one year; John, Berrend, Hannah and Albert also received their educations at Hope College, the latter finishing his education in the State Normal School at Ypsilanti, and upon graduating received a State Certificate to teach.
Mr. Lahuis deserves great credit for the way in which he has surmounted the difficulties which have strewn his pathway and also for having given his children good educational opportunities. He has ever been a wide-awake man of affairs, industrious, pushing, enterprising and law-abiding, and the liberal means which he is now enjoying have been acquired by his own good management. He and his wife are members of the Reformed Church of Zeeland, in which he has held office for the past twenty-five years. He has been Highway and Drainage Commissioner of his township, and politically he is a stanch Prohibitionist.
