Biography of John R. Kleyn

Among the many industries of the thriving city of Holland, that of the Novelty Wood Works has gained a prominent footing, and within the last few years has assumed gigantic proportions. John R. KLEYN, the original of this notice, and the sole owner and proprietor of this growing business, has gained for his establishment a most enviable reputation for the artistic beauty and general excellence of its work, as well as for the prompt and reliable manner in which all work intrusted to it is executed. Active and enterprising, painstaking in all his undertakings, and liberal in his methods of dealing with the public, he has greatly and steadily extended the field of his operations. Mr. KLEYN was born in the Netherlands, February 21, 1841, and his father, Leander KLEYN, was also a native of Holland. The elder Mr. KLEYN was a builder by trade, and superintendent of the Government works at three different places. He was married in his native country to Miss Heiltje Wilhelmina KORTEWEG, and in 1854 brought his family to America. He came direct to Holland, Michigan, where he engaged in building and contracting, being among the pioneers of the place. Only a few years later, in 1857, he passed to that bourne from which no traveler returns. His marriage resulted in the birth of five children, four of whom are living at the present time, and in the order of their births as follows: John R.; Johanna, who is married, and resides in North Carolina; Jane, deceased; Robert, a resident of Holland, Michigan.; and Martin. The father of these children served six years in the army in his native country; he was at the battle of Antwerp, and later wore the Maltese cross of honor. He held membership in the Reformed Church, and was a prominent man in religious circles. The original of this notice was about thirteen years of age when he came to this country, and received the principal part of his education before crossing the ocean. "When sixteen years of age he started out to learn the carpenter's trade, but two years previous to that had received some instruction in that trade from his father. He also learned architecture, the most of it out of books, for he has ever been a great student, and became unusually proficient in that. In 1878 he engaged in the hardware business, followed this for four years with good success, and then established the Novelty Wood Works, which he has conducted up to the present. He employs fifteen men right along, but has employed as many as forty or fifty at a time. Mr. KLEYN manufactures all kinds of building material, and has a great deal of work on large contracts for New York. The building in which he does business is a handsome and substantial structure, the main part being 50x100 feet. Our subject started out for himself with a great amount of pluck and energy, but little else, and is a self-made man in every sense of the term. Being the eldest of five children, when his father died the support of the family fell on his shoulders. He struggled along for years under hardships that would have discouraged a less determined or positive character, and is now one of the prominent and successful business- men of the city of Holland. His mother died in 1879. Politically, Mr. KLEYN is an independent Republican, and has advocated the principles of that party since the Rebellion. For two years he was Alderman of the city, Assessor for about six years, and has held other positions, although he has never been an office-seeker. In the year 1861 lie was married to Miss Dirkje Johanna WALING, the daughter of Simon WALING, who was born in the Netherland, and came to America at an early date. Mr. and Mrs. KLEYN had born to their union nine children. Leonard is engaged in the lumber business with his father, and is foreman of the latter's yard; Lemer makes his home in Holland; Minnie, wife of Alfred WRIGHT, resides in Chicago; Henry resides at Sidney, Nebraska; George is at home, as is also Josephine, who has just graduated from the High School; and Anna, Fred, Simon and Maude are all at home. Mr. KLEYN is a member of the Reformed Church, and a man who has won a high place in the opinion of all acquainted with him. He is a stockholder in the CAPPON-BERTSCH Leather Company, and is a wide-awake, thorough-going business man.

Portrait & Biographical Record of Muskegon & Ottawa Counties, Michigan 1893, Chicago: Biographical Publishing Company Pg. 272

Created: 12 August 2002
URL: http://ottawa.migenweb.net/biographies/1893/kleyn.html