Legislator Details
Image Description:
Photo captured from Find-a-Grave.com, 5/20/2026
Photo captured from Find-a-Grave.com, 5/20/2026
Ate Dykstra
AKA:
Number of sessions served 9
Gender: Male
Age at election: 57
Vital Records Information:
Birth
Date: 12/1/1865
City: Franekeradeel Municipality, Netherlands
County: Friesland, Netherlands
Country: Netherlands
Death
Date: 9/19/1953
City: Grand Rapids, MI
County: Kent County, MI
Country: US
Type of Burial: interred
Burial
Date:
City: Grand Rapids, MI
County: Kent County, MI
Country: US
Cemetery: Washington Park Cemetery
Marital Information:
married Anna Feenstra, [she died 12/9/1938.; children: 3, Jessie (Folkringa), Gertrude (Batts) and Peter
Number of Children: 3
Background
Religion: Christian Reformed
Military Service:
Occupation: farmer, businessman, newspaper editor
Race: Caucasian or White
Education:
Biographical Sketch:
Of Dutch ancestry, he came to America in 1890 (Grand Rapids, MI). Employed in furniture factories for a time and then conducted a grocery and dry goods store for 25 years He was also a political editor of a weekly newspaper. Served 5 years on the Kent county board of supervisors, 3 terms as alderman of Grand Rapids, and was a candidate for mayor in 1910.
On 11/13/1918 one of his daughters died in Detroit. On 3/7/1931 his only son died in a car accident in Grand Rapids, MI.
Notable Facts:
Political Graveyard gives death date as 9/18/1953; House Resolution No. 5, p.6, 1954 House Journal, indicated that he died 9/19,1953.
Sessions Served:
Sixty-Third Legislature, 1945-1946
Chamber: House
Party: Republican
Committees Served On: Apportionment , City Corporations , Girls' Training School, Pontiac State Hospital , Roads and Bridges , State Psychopathic Hospital
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Grand Rapids
County of Residence Kent
District: Kent 1
District Description: City of Grand Rapids
Date Elected: 11/7/1944
Date Sworn In: 1/3/1945
Date Left Office:
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Departed
Maritial Status:
Notes: Chair of the Committee on City Corporations
Sixty-First Legislature, 1941-1942
Chamber: House
Party: Republican
Committees Served On: City Corporations , Labor , Printing , Religious and Benevolent Societies , Roads and Bridges
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Grand Rapids
County of Residence Kent
District: Kent 1
District Description:
Date Elected: 11/5/1940
Date Sworn In: 1/1/1941
Date Left Office:
Reason for Leaving Office:
End of Term Status: Departed
Maritial Status:
Notes: Chair of the Committee on City Corporations
Sixtieth Legislature, 1939-1940
Chamber: House
Party: Republican
Committees Served On: City Corporations , Labor , Printing , Religious and Benevolent Societies , Roads and Bridges
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Grand Rapids
County of Residence Kent
District: Kent 1
District Description: City of Grand Rapids in Kent County
Date Elected: 11/8/1938
Date Sworn In: 1/4/1939
Date Left Office:
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Departed
Maritial Status:
Notes: Chair of the Committee on City Corporations
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, 1933-1934
Chamber: House
Party: Republican
Committees Served On: City Corporations , Liquor Traffic , Michigan Home and Training School, Religious and Benevolent Societies , Roads and Bridges
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Grand Rapids
County of Residence Kent
District: Kent 1
District Description: City of Grand Rapids
Date Elected: 11/8/1932
Date Sworn In: 1/4/1933
Date Left Office:
Reason for Leaving Office: Lost Election
End of Term Status: Departed
Maritial Status: Married
Notes: Chair of Religious and Benevolent Societies.
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, 1931-1932
Chamber: House
Party: Republican
Committees Served On: City Corporations , Michigan Home and Training School, Religious and Benevolent Societies , Roads and Bridges
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Grand Rapids
County of Residence Kent
District: Kent 1
District Description: Grand Rapids city
Date Elected: 11/4/1930
Date Sworn In: 1/7/1931
Date Left Office:
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Maritial Status: Married
Notes: Chair of the Committees on City Corporations; and Religious and Benevolent Societies
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, 1929-1930
Chamber: House
Party: Republican
Committees Served On: City Corporations , Private Corporations , Religious and Benevolent Societies , State Psychopathic Hospital
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Grand Rapids
County of Residence Kent
District: Kent 1
District Description: Grand Rapids city
Date Elected: 11/6/1928
Date Sworn In: 1/2/1929
Date Left Office:
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Maritial Status: Married
Notes:
Fifty-Fourth Legislature, 1927-1928
Chamber: House
Party: Republican
Committees Served On: City Corporations , Education , Elections , Kalamazoo State Hospital
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Grand Rapids
County of Residence Kent
District: Kent 1
District Description: Grand Rapids city in Kent County
Date Elected: 11/2/1926
Date Sworn In: 1/5/1927
Date Left Office:
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Maritial Status: Married
Notes: Chair of the Committee on City Corporations
Fifty-Third Legislature, 1925-1926
Chamber: House
Party: Republican
Committees Served On: City Corporations , Education , Northern State Normal School , Religious and Benevolent Societies
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Grand Rapids
County of Residence Kent
District: Kent 1
District Description: Grand Rapids city in Kent County
Date Elected: 11/4/1924
Date Sworn In: 1/7/1925
Date Left Office:
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Maritial Status: Married
Notes: Chair of the Committee on City Corporations
Fifty-Second legislature, 1923-1924
Chamber: House
Party: Republican
Committees Served On: City Corporations , Education , Northern State Normal School , Religious and Benevolent Societies
Postions Held:
City of Residence: Grand Rapids
County of Residence Kent
District: Kent 1
District Description:
Date Elected: 11/7/1922
Date Sworn In: 1/3/1923
Date Left Office:
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Maritial Status: Married
Notes: