Background
He was named after a business partner of his father Albertus, who founded Holland, Michigan and Hope College. The decision to enlist was supported by his father, Albertus, who encouraged Dutch boys to enlist.
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Dirk Dirk Van Raalte
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Van Raalte was an active member in the community of Holland, Michigan as a local businessman. He died from pneumonia and is buried in Pilgrim Home Cemetery. Born on March 1, 1844 in Ommen Netherlands, Van Raalte was the fifth of ten total children of Albertus van Raalte and Christina Van Raalte.
Seven of those ten children survived into adulthood: three boys and four girls.
Christina would send both him and Benjamin treats along with extra clothes even against their wishes. In a letter home Benjamin explains "If I need anything I will write for lieutenant
Mother must not send me anything unless I ask for lieutenant" Van Raalte was part of the 25th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment. During his time of service he would lose an arm during the Battle of Atlanta.
While riding his horse through the woods, trying to deliver a message, Van Raalte was ambushed by Confederate soldiers and was shot in the forearm and shoulder after attempting to escape on horseback.
His wounds would lead to the amputation of his right arm from the shoulder down. The horse Van Raalte was riding during the time of his injury was black, so for the rest of his life he refused to ride anything other than a black horse. Van Raalte began as a private in the army and was discharged as a hospital steward on April 13, 1865.
He returned to Holland the spring after the war"s close in 1865.
In October 1880 Van Raalte would marry Kate Ledeboer, the sister of Willie Ledeboer a man who was in his regiment during the war. Together they would have two sons, Albertus Christiaan and Doctorate.B.K Junior.
The couple would live in the family house which Van Raalte purchased in 1875. During his tenure on the state legislature, which began twelve years after his discharge from the military, Van Raalte would serve two consecutive terms, and then return for a third term in 1909 until his death in 1910.
His primary job on the legislature was serving on committee of ways and means.
Politics
Van Raalte was well-liked by everyone on the legislature from all the different political parties.
