Tuscola-Lapeer County MI Archives Biographies.....Hollenbeck, William R. 1847 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 5, 2007, 11:14 pm

Author: Chapman Bros. (1892)

WILLIAM R. HOLLENBECK. This citizen of Vassar, Tuscola County, repeats in his
life story the many times told tale of the boy who started out for himself at an
early age, and who at once made of avail the education he had gained by the
hardest toil, going to school winters and working summers. He is now in the
grocery and crockery business and is also the proprietor of a first-class meat
market.

  Our subject was born in the township of Marathon, Lapeer County, Mich.,
November 14, 1862, and in his parentage he is descended from a mingling of
German and Yankee stock. His parents, William and Mary A. (Tower) Hollenbeck,
were born in the State of New York. They came to Michigan at an early date,
making their home here in the old Territorial days of 1837, some years previous
to their marriage. They carried on a farm in Lapeer County and gave their son
the best training both educationally and industrially which they could command.

  When fourteen years old the lad set out for himself, working up on wages and
going to school winters, and began teaching when only nineteen. After a few
winters spent in this way he again attended school at Otisville for a year. He
had now got ahead so well that he felt that he might take the momentous step of
establishing his own home and taking to himself a wife, which he did December
24, 1885, his bride being Miss Margaret E. Lauthers of Oregon, Lapeer County.
Columbiaville, in that county, was the town where he first established himself
in the grocery business but he did not long remain there, as after a year and a
half he bought out his partner's interest and moved his stock to Vassar, where
he made a new business connection and for three years carried on the store with
a partner.

  At the end of this time Mr. Hollenbeck sold out his share in the business in
which he had been engaged and started for himself at another stand. This he did
by means of aid from his father, who gladly loaned him the necessary money for
this enterprise. Prosperity has attended his efforts and he has not only been
able to fully repay the advance thus made but has also improved and built up his
business so that he now has a fine outlook and is well spoken of by his
neighbors as a man of enterprise and integrity. His political convictions have
ever brought him into line with the Republican party and he votes and works for
its interests. His fellow citizens have made him a member of the village council
and he is also Clerk of Vassar Township.

  Mr. and Mrs. Hollenbeck are devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal Church
and he is the Secretary of its Board of Trustees and an influential member of
that board. This couple had the happiness of welcoming to their home in February
1891, a little daughter who bears the name of Lulu A. Mr. Hollenbeck is the
second in a family of five. The sister older than he, who bears the name of
Martha Alice, is now the wife of Willey Clute and the mother of six children.
She lives on the old homestead in Lapeer County. The brothers are Charles,
George and Henry, and the former is employed in Lapeer while the others work in
the store for our subject.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Portrait and Biographical Record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties,
Michigan, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens, Together with Biographies of all the Governors of the State, and of
the Presidents of the United States

Chicago:
Chapman Bros.
1892


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