Johannes “John” Douma (1847-1939) from Holland, Michigan was a veteran of the U.S. Civil War serving with the 24th Michigan Infantry. He also served as a guard for President Abraham Lincoln’s body, along with Graafschap native Mattheus Notier, before it was interred at Springfield, Illinois in May1865. After returning to Holland he farmed a plot of land near M-40, married in 1872, and fathered ten children. He passed away in 1939, the last Civil War veteran living in Holland.
If you would like to learn more about Douma his archival collection is held at the Joint Archives of Holland at Hope College. The collection (H12-1814) contains his scrapbook and military papers dating from 1897-1932.