From: A Twentieth Century History of Allegan County, Michigan

By Henry F. ThomasPublished 1907, Lewis Publishing Co.

F. H. HERBERT is proprietor of the Riverside Fruit and Stock Farm. To say that he is a practical and wide-awake business man is but just and merited praise, and in fact he deserves even more commendable language, for he is not a follower but a leader in the work of progress as manifest in the scientific agriculture and deserves classification with the leading representatives of horticultural and agricultural life in this part of the country. His farm is both attractive and profitable and has the appearance of being operated by a master hand. Indeed, every detail about the farm presents an appearance of thrift and neatness—a result which is due to the efforts of Mr. Herbert, whose labors are now most practical as well as of a progressive character.

A native of Illinois, F. H. Herbert was born on the 15th of May, 1858, and was brought to Michigan at the early age of six years by his parents, Henry and Sophia (Herbst) Herbert, both of whom we re natives of Germany. They crossed the Atlantic to the new world in 1853 and became residents of Chicago. The father is a tanner by trade and in early life also acquainted himself with the butchering business. He is now living in Grand Rapids, Michigan. His family numbered eight children, but only two reached years of maturity, and the subject of this review is now the only surviving one of the family.

As previously stated, F. H. Herbert was brought by his parents to Michigan when a lad of six summers and was educated at Schoolcraft, this state. He learned the machinist's trade and followed that pursuit for five years, relinquishing it only on account of failing health. Removing to Saugatuck he continued a resident of that village for three years and thence went to Douglas, where he remained until 1878. In that year he made a trip abroad, visiting England, France, Germany, Switzerland and Holland, remaining in the old world an entire year, and visiting many points of historic and scenic interest. On his return he took up agricultural pursuits, but after a brief period he made a trip to South Bend, Indiana, and later to Racine, Wisconsin, spending three years in the latter city. He finally located in Grand Rapids, where for fourteen years he was engaged in the transportation business, and on leaving that city he came to his farm, whereon he has since resided. It passed into his control in 1894, at which time it was in a run-down state and needed many improvements in various ways. It is today a model property under a high state of cultivation, as the result of the well directed labors and keen business discernment of Mr. Herbert. He has upon his place apple orchards covering twelve acres, six acres of peaches, four acres of pears and one of plums, while one and a half acres is devoted to the cultivation of strawberries. The production of fruit is therefore an important branch of his business and the products of the farm because of the excellence of the nursery stock are of high quality and flavor, and bring a ready sale on the market. Mr. Herbert has also stocked his farm with the best blooded cattle and fleet-footed horses, and he likewise raises poultry and keeps very fine varieties of chickens. His farm contains sixty acres under cultivation and one hundred and twenty-five acres of bottom land, which he uses for pasturage.

On March 29, 1881, occurred the marriage of Mr. Herbert and Miss Annie Doornkaat, a daughter of Sebo and Alice Doornkaat. They now have one son, Joseph, who is upon the stage. Mr. Herbert is a member of various fraternal organizations, including the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of the Golden Eagle, and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is likewise an active member of Butcher Lodge No. 193, F. & A. M., and he and his wife hold membership relations with the Eastern Star. Mr. Herbert is a strong advocate of the cause of temperance, whose life is in conformity with a high standard of moral ethics and who in his business and other relations closely adheres to the golden rule. He is a self-made man in the best sense of the term, owing his education as well as his prosperity to his earnest and unfaltering labors, and while leading a busy life he manages to keep in touch with the trend of modern thought and progress. The Riverside Fruit and Stock Farm is now a valuable property and is the visible evidence of the thrift and energy which have found exemplification in the life of its owner.