CORNELIUS J. DE ROO is the very efficient Secretary and manager of the

Walsh-De Roo / Milling Company, of Holland, Michigan. Mr. De Roo was born

in this county March 19, 1855, and was named for his father, who came to

this country from his native land, Holland, about 1847, his birth having

occurred in 1834. He settled almost immediately in Holland Township, where

he at once turned his attention to milling, erecting the first mill that

was ever put up in that section, about three miles east of Holland, in

1852. He lived only a short time thereafter, his death occurring on the 2d

of September, 1855. He was married to Elizabeth Vandermeulen, a daughter of

Rev. Cornelius Vandermeulen, who was the leader of the Holland colonists who

settled and founded Zeeland. Mrs. De Roo was born in Holland, and was

married to Mr. De Roo in 1854, her death occurring in 1871. The subject of

this sketch was the only child born to his parents, and after the death of

his father he went to live with his maternal grandfather at Grand Rapids,

Michigan. There he received a good, practical education in the public

schools, and after finishing at the High School he entered the Business

College of Grand Rapids, from which he graduated. He later became a

book-keeper for a firm of that city, but when he attained to the age of

twenty-four years he went to Zeeland and engaged in milling in partnership

with H. Keppel, the firm name being Keppel & De Roo. He remained at that

place until 1882, since which time he has been a resident of Holland, and

soon after coming here organized the Walsh-De Roo Milling Company for the

building of the mill, of which he is Secretary and manager, it being the

first roller-mill erected within a radius of one hundred miles of this

city. The positions he occupies have been filled with great credit to

himself, and he has clearly demonstrated that he is a man of sound

intelligence and correct principles. The officers are: Isaac Cappon,

President, and H. Walsh, Vice-President. The capacity of the mill is four

hundred barrels per day and two carloads of feed and meal, and the capital

stock of the concern amounts to $66,000. Mr. De Roo is the Secretary of the

Holland & Chicago Transportation Company, which was organized in the fall of

1892, and which is running a daily line of steamers between Chicago and

Holland. The liners consist of the propellers "City of Holland" and

"Saugatuck," which are well equipped and fitted up with electric lights,

etc. He is also a Director of the First State Bank of Holland. Politically,

he has always been a Republican, and has served in the capacity of Mayor of

Holland. He has been Alderman for two terms, a member of the Board of

Education for three terms, and is now a member of the Board of Public

Works, to all of which organizations he has proven an acquisition. He is a

member of the Holland Improvement Association, and has in numerous other

ways manifested a deep interest in the welfare of the place. In 1879 Mr. De

Roo was married to Miss Sarah Van Driele, a daughter of Frank Van Driele, a

dealer in flour, feed and grain at Grand Rapids, and their union has

resulted in the birth of five children, of whom two are living, Margaret and

Cornelius P. He and his wife are church members, and are people of high

standing in Holland and move in the best social circles.

Portrait & Biographical record pgs. 307-308
Submitted by Janet Brosius & Bill Moore
Created: 31 July 2002
URL: http://ottawa.migenweb.net/biographies/1893/deroo.html