Profile
Catalog Number
2020.9.480Title
Boonstra, SakeDescription
Image of Holland MI resident Sake Boonstra's record of service in the "Record of Service of Michigan Volunteers in the Civil War, Vol. 16" and obituary in January 8th, 1917 edition of the Grand Rapids Press.History
Sake Boonstra was born on October 8th, 1845 in the Netherlands. On February 20th, 1865, he enlisted with the 16th Michigan Infantry, Co. K as a replacement for John Hilder, who was drafted from Holland MI. Sake served until he was mustered out on July 8th 1865. After the war, he spent the next thirty odd years in Holland, MI, until spending the rest of his life in Grand Rapids, MI in beginning in the 1890s. Sake passed on January 7th, 1917 in Grand Rapids, and is interred in the Grand Rapids Soldiers Home Cemetery.The 16th Michigan Infantry was organized on September 8th, 1861. Only 5 Hollanders served with the 16th, four of whom joined in February 1865 as reinforcements after the regiment lost 10 killed and 42 wounded at the battle of Little Round Top. From February 1865 onwards, the regiment was in the vicinity of Petersburg during its siege. It followed the Confederate Army after it retreated from Richmond, and came in contact with the enemy frequently until the surrender at Appomattox. The regiment was disbanded on July 25th, 1865. ;Read More