Profile
Catalog Number
2020.9.603Title
Van Schelven, GerritDescription
Image of Holland MI resident Gerrit Van Schelven's record of service in the "Record of Service of Michigan Volunteers in the Civil War, Vol. 25" and obituary in the April 4th, 1927 edition of Holland City News on the first page and an image of a young Gerrit Van Schelven.History
Gerrit Van Schelven was born on November 16th, 1842 in the Netherlands. He enlisted on August 14th, 1862 in the 25th Michigan Infantry Co. I. He attained the rank of Sergeant. He served until June 23rd, 1865. After the war, he was very involved in the Holland MI community. He was one of the most knowledgeable citizens on the history of Holland and the Civil War. He served as postmaster until the end of Woodrow Wilson's first term, was one of Holland's foremost journalists for many years, the editor of several newspapers including De Hollander and De Grondwet. He also served as Justice of the Peace, and at the time of his death was the superintendent of Pilgrim Home Cemetery. He passed on April 4th, 1927 in Holland, MI and is interred in Pilgrim Home Cemetery.The 25th Michigan Infantry Company I was largely made up of Dutch immigrants from Holland, Michigan and its surrounding areas. The company is most famous for its involvement in the Battle at Tebb's Bend, where roughly 200 Union soldiers repulsed an attack by the Confederate general John Hunt Morgan and his raiders. The 25th Infantry was also involved in several campaigns in Eastern Tennessee and Sherman's March to the Sea, where the 25th fought at Tunnel Hill, Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, Cassville, Kingston, Allatoona, Pine Mountain, Lost Mountain, and Kenesaw. The regiment also took part in the siege of Atlanta. The regiment was mustered out on June 24th, 1865.