Born in the Netherlands February 10, 1839, our subject was a lad of eight years when he accompanied his parents to America, and very soon afterward he was orphaned by their death. He was then given by the church authorities to R. Schilliman, now a resident of North Holland, Mich., who at that time was extensively engaged in shipping lumber, shingles, etc., by boat to the principal markets. With this gentleman the orphan boy remained until he was nineteen, his educational advantages meantime being exceedingly limited. At that age he ran away and, coming to Georgetown Township, worked in the employ of L. & L. Jenison for three summer seasons, attending the district school during the winter.

In August, 1862, Mr. Kronemyer enlisted as a member of Company G, Twenty-first Michigan Infantry, and from the ranks was promoted to the position of Corporal, later to Duty-Sergeant and finally to Orderly-Sergeant. With his company he marched to Cincinnati, Ohio, thence to Louisville, Ky., and from there into the enemy’s strongholds. He participated in the following-named battles: Perryville, October 8, 1862; Lavergne, Tenn., December 27; Stewarts, December 29; Stone River, December 29-31, 1862, and January 1-3, 1863; Tullahoma, Tenn., June 24; Elk River, July 1; Chickamauga, September 19-21; Chattanooga, October 6; Brown’s Ferry, October 27; Mission Ridge, November 26; Savannah, Ga., December 11, 18 and 21-24, 1864; Averysboro, N.C., March 16, 1865; and Bentonville, N.C., March 19.

At Bentonville, N.C., Mr. Kronemyer was struck by a musket ball, which knocked him senseless. Left on the field, he was taken prisoner by the Confederates and for two weeks was confined in Libby Prison. Upon being released he was sent to Camp Chase, Ohio, and from there went to Detroit, where he was mustered out with his regiment, June 8, 1865, after a service of two years and ten months. During the entire period of his service, he was never in a hospital or absent from any roll-call, or any battle in which his regiment participated. After his discharge he returned to Hudsonville, and later engaged in rafting logs to Grand River, continuing in that way for one summer. During the winter of 1865-66 he worked in the lumber woods at Georgetown. Prior to the war he purchased a small farm on section 20, Georgetown Township, for which he completed payment after the close of the war.

The marriage of Mr. Kronemyer occurred in 1867, and united him with Miss Mary VanStrate, a native of the Netherlands, who died in 1885, after an illness of twelve years. Four children were born of the union, two of whom are now living, Alida J. and Agatha S. In 1887 Mr. Kronemyer was again married, choosing as his wife Miss Salina Smedley, who was born in England, and who has proved a most efficient helpmate to her husband. To his children Mr. Kronemyer has given excellent educational advantages, and his daughters are young ladies of culture and refinement. His eldest son died after attaining his majority.

The original purchase of land made by Mr. Kronemyer consisted of seventy-four acres, wholly unimproved, upon which he remained until 1891. After a short sojourn in Grand Rapids, he went to another farm and from there came to Hudsonville in 1893. He owns considerable valuable real estate, including three houses in Grand Rapids and a residence in Hudsonville. In politics a Republican, he has been prominent in local political affairs, and has served as Township Clerk a number of terms, also as Township Treasurer for a long period, and as Supervisor for three years. His life has by no means been an easy one, but he has possessed an abundance of energy, perseverance and the American characteristic of "stick-to-it-iveness," and as a result of his unwearied efforts has gained a large measure of success.