Henry John Bolt, who is now living retired in Grand Haven, well deserves representation in this volume, for he is widely known among the citizens of Ottawa County and his life record will be received with interest by many of our readers. He was born in Holland in 1823, and his father, who was also a native of the same country, crossed the Atlantic to America and took up his residence in Zeeland, Ottawa County, where he spent the remainder of his life. By occupation he was a farmer.

Our subject acquired such educational advantages as the schools of his native land afforded. The days of his boyhood and youth were spent under the parental roof, and he early became familiar with the duties of farm life, aiding his father in the development of a farm until 1847, when he came to America. He was then a young man of twenty-three years. Landing in New York, he made his way at once to Grand Haven, Mich., and became the first settler of this city from Holland. Here he engaged in the milling business for two years, and was then variously employed for a number of years. He had no capital at the time of his arrival and had to depend upon his own resources for a livelihood. After a time he began devoting his energies to farming and fruit-growing, and thus passed his time for several years. He was quite successful in that line, and as his financial resources were increased he began making judicious investments in real estate and dealt in town property. This proved a profitable investment and has yielded to him a good income.

In the year 1852 Mr. Bolt was married, the lady of his choice being Miss Cornelia Elfers, a native of the Netherlands. Their union was celebrated in Grand Haven, and unto them was born a family of eight children: Hannah, now the wife of John Kolboord, a resident of Battle Creek, Mich.; Alice, at home; Jennie, the wife of John Boer; Henry, now deceased; Cornelia, who died at the age of six months; Henry J.; and Albert, who is engaged in merchandising in Grand Haven. The mother of this family was called to her final rest in 1892, and many friends mourned her loss.

Mr. Bolt is a member of the Second Reformed Church. In politics he is a pronounced Republican, warmly advocating the principles of the party with which he has long been identified. He was elected Street Commissioner of Grand Haven, and so acceptably did he fill the office that he was re-elected again and again until he had served in that position for ten years. He has always taken an active interest in school affairs, and the cause of education finds in him a warm friend. In fact, no worthy public enterprise seeks his aid in vain, he being ever ready to give his support and cooperation to those interests which are calculated to prove of public benefit. By his own well-directed efforts, and through the legitimate channels of business, he has achieved a success and acquired a competency which now enable him to lay aside all care and live retired in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil.