James Schols Page 518 - James Schols, proprietor of a florist shop at 1330 Leonard street, Grand Rapids, was born in that city September 26, 1884, the son of James Schols, Sr., who was born in the Netherlands and came to the United States in 1879. James Schols, Sr., first settled on a cotton plantation in the south, but in 1882, he came to Grand Rapids where he engaged in the floral business, building a large greenhouse in which to grow his own flowers. He conducted this business until 1912 when he retired to his farm located a mile west of Grand Rapids. James Schols, Jr., was educated in the public schools of Grand Rapids after which he went to work for his father. He continued in that line of work, learning the business with a thoroughness that guaranteed his future success in the field. With the retirement of his father in 1912, he took over the management of the business. The firm is one of the pioneer floral establishments of Grand Rapids. The company maintains its own greenhouses and a new office and show room, thoroughly modern in every respect. On December 19, 1912, he married Miss Cecelia Vander Hagen, the daughter of Mr. And Mrs. J. C. Vander Hagen, the former of whom is dead and the latter of whom is still living in Grand Rapids. To Mr. and Mrs. Schols have been born two children, James III, born in 1915, and Elaine, born in 1919. Mr. Schols is a thirty-second degree Mason and is a member of the Elks, Knights of Pythias, and the Fraternal Order of Eagles.

Transcriber:  Nancy Myers
Created: 5 November 2002