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ANDREW Van BLOCKLAND. - It now becomes our privilege to give a resume of the career of one of Union county's most extensive agriculturists, and it is not without a feeling of gratification that we are enabled to chronicle that our county is possessed of one so enterprising and capable as the subject of this sketch has demonstrated himself to be, both in the commendable achievements that he has accomplished here and because of the ability displayed in the efforts, while also we point with pride to the fact that he is a native son of our county and here he received his training for the battle of life.

On the old homestead where he now resides one mile north and one-half mile east from Island City, Andrew was born to John and Jane (Rysdam) Van Blokland on December 28, 1867. In the schoolhouse where now hischildren toil over the problems of elemental mathematics and rhetoric, he too, gained his education and won the smiles of the muse that dispensed lore to the faithful. During the winters he was found here in patient study and in the summers in invigorating labor on the father's farm. This continued until he was twenty and the next year he entered partnership with his father, continuing this alliance for two years, whenhe and his brother rented the father's farm. In 1892 the father and the two sons purchased a half section of land, which the sons farmed in connection with the father's section. In 1895 they bought one quarter section more and in 1899 the sons bought the father's interest in the entire amount, and in 1901 purchased eight hundred and eighty acresmore, giving them the magnificent estate of two thousand acres of land. They are extensively engaged in handling hogs, selling as many as four hundred head in one year. They also have some excellent specimens of Berkshire and Poland China, besides other stock. Fruit sufficent for the use of the families is raised on the farms and they are classed with the best agriculturists of the county, our subject being especially thorough in his work.

In 1891 occurred the marriage of Mr. Van Blokland and Miss Mary A., daughter of Jacob G. and Johannah (Dielemen) Masdam. The bride was born in Pella, Marion county, Iowa, of a prominent family, her grandfather being a missionary of the Dutch Reformed church and a noted writer on the doctrines and tenets of that denomination. The wedding occurred in Humboldt county, Iowa, and three children have been born the them. Josie, Earl, Edward. Mr. Van Blockland is allied with the Democratic party in political matters and takes an active part in the affairs of the county, being always on the side of good government and the promulgation of sound principles. He is also a member of the Masons, both the blue lodge and the chapter, while he and his wife are affiliated with the Eastern Star. They are both members of the Methodist church and are active in the support of their faith, both by precept and example.

GARRETT VAN BLOKLAND. - In the person of the subject of this sketch we have before us one of the younger men of Union county who has given himself to the prosecution of agriculture and raising stock, and has gained in his enterprising career which has been entirely spent in this county, a success so apparent and brilliant, that there are few, perhaps none, who are not cognizant of its completeness, while the ability manifested in the achievement of the same has conclusively placed our subject as one of the forceful factors of the county, both in development of its resources and in accomplishment of his own personal enterprises.

Our subject was born in Union county on the old homestead of his father, on August 17, 1872, and was educated in the district school, which is but one and one-half miles from where he now resides. At the age of nineteen years he went into business with his brother, renting their father's farm of six hundred and forty acres. In 1892 the two brothers and the father bought one-half section more, which the sons farmed in connection with the other land until 1895, when the three bought another quarter section, and from this land they produced as high as fifteen thousand bushels per annum. In 1899, the son bought the father's interest in the land, and in 1901 they added eight hundred and eighty acres more, this last being largely grazing and timber land. The two brothers have now an estate of two thousand acres between them, which is one of the best kept farms of the county and produces abundantly. On October 3, 1897, Mr. Van Blokland married Miss Emma L., daughter of Daniel and Sarah (Spook) Henderson, natives of Indiana and Ohio, respectively, and to them have been born two children, Walter J. and Milo F. In political affiliation our subject is allied with the Democratic party, and has displayed his characteristic wisdom and keen foresight in the affairs of the county. He is a member of the Masons, belonging both to the blue lodge and chapter, while he and his wife are identified with the Eastern Star. The two brothers have the estate in company and have always worked together, while the entire stock and everything pertaining to their business is held in partnership.

In 1833, in the noted country of Holland, the subject of this sketch saw light first and there he passed the first forteen years of his life. It was in 1847 that he came to the United States in company with his parents. They stopped for a little while in Baltimore and then came to St. Louis, whence they went to Marion county, Iowa, and there the father was one of the leading spirits in establishing the famous colony of Hollanders that quickly grew to the dimensions of the county, and then absorbed the adjacent couties. This noted settlement has done much for the state of Iowa in augmenting its wealth and producing stanch and substantial citizens of worth and ability. The father was a prominent and distinguished figure among these colonists and held an enviable position in the leadership of the affairs, which his ability, integrity and energy amply fitted him for. In 1852 the plague of cholera swept over the country and the parents of our subject fell victims to its ravages, dying within one hour of each other. At the age of seventeen John commenced independent action for himself, first operating in freighting supplies for the new colony, which he followed until 1862 and then spent some time in viewing the country, and in 1864 came to the Grande Ronde valley. On this trip he used mule teams and safety and good success attended the entire trip. Soon after arriving in the valley he took a homestead for himself one mile east from Island City. He at once commenced to raise the fruits of the soil and to build for himself a good home. He was active and industrious and success attended all of his endeavors. In addition to handling the products of the ground he raised hogs and is one of the most successful manipulators of this animal in the county. He added to his homestead from time to time by purchase until he had a broad estate of twelve hundred acres, all well improved and skillfully handled. His is one of the most thrifty places in our county's quota of good farms. Three years since he retired from the more active cares of the farm and removed to the town of Lagrande, where he resides at the present time in a comfortable and tasty dwelling. Mr. Van Blokland has his farm well improved with good buildings and is one of the most progressive and intelligent agriculturists of our county. In politics he is allied with the Democrats, maintaining the stanch principles of Jeffersonian doctrine. His service in public life as his demeanor in provate walk has been with faithfulness and sound principles and efficiency.

The marriage of Mr. Van Blokland and Miss Jannie Rysdam, a native of Holland and an immigrant to the United States in 1847, whose parents settled in the Marion county colony, was solemnized in 1859, and they have become the parents of four children, Andrew, Garret, Allie and Hannah. Mrs. Van Blokland came across the plains with her husband and when he landed here he had but five dollars, the Indians having stolen all of his stock between Fort Laramie and Deer Creek. The parents of our subject came to America for freedom of religious ideas. Mrs. Van Blockland's father was wealthy, and brought over with him thrity-four families, all of whom are good citizens of Iowa and other states.