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Source: Portraits and Bios
Peter Huisheere deserves mention as one of the early settlers of
Holland Township. He is the fourth in a family of five children, and
was born April 15, 1824. John and Mary (Eernisse) Huisheere, the
parents of Peter, were natives of Zeeland, Holland, which was also
the birthplace of their children. In early life the father followed
farming, but later became a well-known merchant. He died in his
native land, at the age of sixty-four years, and his wife passed away
when her son Peter was about three years of age. Left motherless,
his education was wholly neglected. He never went to school a day in
his life, and when sixteen years old he could not tell one letter
from another. Desirous of obtaining knowledge, he began the task of
self-education, and by constant application he has become a well-
informed man. Mr. Huisheere is the only living representative of his
father's family. On the 6th of April, 1851, he started from
Amsterdam on a three-mast sailing vessel called "Asientes," which was
built in Holland.
Having reached New York on the 20th of June, our subject continued
his Western journey to Holland, Erie County, N.Y., where he resided
about four years. There, on the 14th of August, 1851, he wedded Miss
Aderjane, daughter of Jacob and Anna (Dereu) Elias. Mrs. Huisheere
was born in the same lace as her husband, September 4, 1822, and
crossed the ocean on the same vessel. She is the only survivor of a
family of seven children, three sons and four daughters. Later her
parents, accompanied by one son and three daughters, emigrated to
America. Having followed the trade of a tanner in New York, Mr.
Huisheere came West to engage in agricultural pursuits, arriving in
the town of Holland in 1855. Soon after coming to this county, Mr.
Huisheere bought a forty-acre tract of land on section 16, though he
never made that his home, preferring to rent a farm. Since 1864 his
home has been on the farm where he now lives, section 25, range 22.
Upon this farm was kept the first post-office established in that
township. It was kept by S. Burr in 1848, and the old log house,
which served both as dwelling and post-office, is still to be seen in
the rear of Mr. Huisheere's more modern residence. Its dimensions
are 12x24 feet, and its construction is of the most primitive style.
Mr. Huisheere owns a neat farm of twenty-six acres in t his county,
besides ten acres in Ozaukee County. For over twenty-six years he
has been an auctioneer, having gained a popularity in that calling
which has made his services much sought after in this and adjoining
counties.
Politically, our subject is independent, affiliating with no party,
but voting for those whom he considers the best men. By his fellow
townsmen he has been called upon to fill several offices, having been
Assessor five terms, and one term Supervisor. Both he and his wife
are members of the Presbyterian Church.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Huisheere has been born a family of seven
children. Peter, born October 5, 1853, is a prosperous farmer in the
town of Holland; Mary, born February 8, 1858, became the wife of
August Schiereck, Postmaster and general merchant of Cedar Grove;
Jane, born December 26, 1859, married Henry W. Te Grotenhuis, a
farmer of Holland Township; Jacob, born September 7, 1862, is baggage-
master at Sheboygan for the Lake Shore Railway; and three are
deceased.
Mr. Huisheere is a man well known and highly esteemed throughout his
community, where he has lived for nearly forty years.
Copyright 1997 - 2009 by Debie Blindauer
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