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Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott
April 4, 2011
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OBITUARY OF JOHN CASTENHOLZ, JR
The Muskegon Chronicle
August 17, 1925


"Veteran Road Builder Dies
John Castenholz, Former
Highway Commissioner,
Taken by Stroke
------------------------------
John Castenholz, 72 years old, a leader in the good roads movement in
Western Michigan, and for 18 years an alderman in Muskegon, died at
the family home on Getty avenue last night.  Death followed a
paralytic stroke suffered January 12, 1924 while he was actively
engaged in his duties as chairman of the Muskegon county road
commission.

For the last four weeks, Mr. Castenholz has been gradually growing
weaker, but Friday he was able to take a short automobile ride.  He
continued to grow weaker Sunday, until the end came during the early
evening.  The members of his family with the exception of one sister,
were present.

Mr. Castenholz probably played as important a part in the shaping of
the good roads program for Muskegon county as any other person.  It
was his energy, and foresight which to a large degree brought Muskegon
its present network of paved trunk line highways.

For 18 years Mr. Castenholz served the old fourth and seventh wards on
the city council, playing an important part in the operations of the
city during that ong period.  Later he became identified with the good
roads movement through the Chanber of Commerce.

Then seven years ago Mr. Castenholz was selected by the board of
supervisors as a county road commissioner.  He at once brought about a
reorganization of the board and this marked the intensive period of
road building in Muskegon county.  Up until that time there had been
more or less friction between the county road commission and the
supervisors and Muskegon had only a limited mileage of paved highway.

Mr. Castenholz realized that road building must be undertaken on a big
scale, and he set out to enlist aid of others in putting over the
program.  His service of about five years on the county commission saw
the start and the completion of the Belt highway, and also the
connecting up of a paved way between Muskegon and Grand Haven.  The
stroke suffered in January, '24 brought to an end his activities,
however, but the program was well underway.

At one time Mr. Castenholz also served as county superintendant of
poor.

Mr. Castenholz was born in Millwaukee, Feb. 14, 1853, the son of Mr.
and Mrs. John Castenholz.  He came to Muskegon in 1870, and the family
has been prominent in activities here since that date.  This is
especially true of the Castenholz brothers, John, Henry, Joseph,
William and Nick.  The first break in the family came two years ago
when Henry Castenholz, a member of the firm of Castenholz Bros. died
while spending the winter in California.

Mr. Castenholz was married in 1874 and three of the six children born
are now living.  They are Mrs. Helen E. Ruggles of Whitehall, Charles
J. Castenholz, of Chicago and Fred A. Castenholz, of Grand Rapids.
Mr. Castenholz' first wife died in 1887 and in January, 1889 he was
united in marriage to Mrs. Anna Johnson, who survives.  In addition to
the three brothers, a sister, Mrs. Barbara Laughray who is no in
boston, survives.  There are also two grand children, Chloe Isabella
Ruggles and Frederick E. Castenholz.

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