Early
Memories of
Author: Heath, May Francis
Publisher: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company;
MARTINUS VAN LEEUWEN
Martinus
Van Leeuwen was born in Rotterdam, The Netherlands,
in 1843, and at the age of 12 came to America, first to a Dutch settlement in
Fillmore, Mich., then in 1867 to tbe thriving mill
town of Singapore, working in the saw mills until the timber was gone and the
last mill torn down or moved away in 1872—when he came to Saugatuck and was
head sawyer in the Johnson-Stockbridge mill until all mill operation was
closed.
He had bought a small
farm and gave his attention to raising of peaches and
apples.
He was married to
Margaret Bus and they became parents of ten children, seven of whom, Martin,
Bertha, Nellie, Earl, Anna, Mary and Katie, Fred and Neal passed away in young
manhood. They were a family of fine Dutch ancestry, members of the Dutch
Reformed church, where Mr. Van Leeuwen was deacon
many years. He died at the age of 50 and she at 62.