Below is the biography of the
son of Harriet A. Harrison and Martin Van Duzer,
from the “Compendium of History and Biography of Kalamazoo County, Mich.”,
edited by David Fisher and Frank Little, published in Chicago by A.W. Bowen
& Co. in 1906:
Jesse M. Van Duzer
“This enterprising, progressive and successful farmer of Prairie Ronde township, this county, represents the second generation of his family native to the soil and born in that township. His life began on January 1, 1867, and his parents, Martin and Harriet A. (Harrison) Van Duzer, also were born there, the father in 1838 and the mother in 1839. The grandfather, Alonzo Van Duzer, was a native of New York state, a cooper and farmer, and came to this county in about 1835 and located on government land on the northwest corner of Prairie Ronde township, where he operated as a cooper, supplying the early inhabitants with barrels and kindred commodities. He also cleared and farmed some of his land, dying on his farm in 1846 of the measles. His wife lived many years after his death and afterward twice married. He left one son and three daughters. The daughters are still living, two of them in Kalamazoo county. The father was reared and educated in this county and followed farming and threshing, owning and operating one of the first steam threshers in the county. He was engaged in threshing on a large scale for a period of eighteen years. He was also extensively engaged in raising jersey cattle, Poland China hogs and Oxford-down sheep. He was married about 1862 to a daughter of Dr. Bazel Harrison, who is more extensively mentioned in the sketch of George F. Harrison on another page. They had three children, Alonzo, now residing in Schoolcraft, Jesse M. and Harriet A., now Mrs. Alvin Rosen, of Battle Creek. The father was a Republican, but not an active partisan, and sought office. He was an enthusiastic Freemason and considered the best and brightest member of the craft in this section. The mother died in 1892, and he in December, 1902. Their son Jesse was born on the home farm and reared in this county, obtaining his scholastic training in the district schools and his business education at Parson’s Business College in Kalamazoo. He clerked on year at Schoolcraft and since then has followed farming, being interested also in the creamery company, of which he is director. He has recently disposed of his farm and is at present looking for a location in the west. In 1893 he married Miss Nellie E. Wagar, a daughter of Albert Wagar, of Prairie Ronde township. They have two children, Norma A. and Freda M. Mr. Van Duzer has never sought office or taken an active part in political contests, but he has served as school inspector and on the board of review. In fraternal relations he is a Freemason, a Knight of the Maccabees and a member of the National Protective Legion. His township has no better citizen and none who is more generally respected.”
This web page is authored by Scott Duncan. All information listed without a reference should be verified.
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