Bastian Stolk Pg. 407 - Bastian Stolk, manufacturer of cabinetmaker’s hand screws, hand clamps and horse clamps, was born in the Netherlands, June 12, 1891, the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Stolk, both of whom were natives of that country. The parents of Bastian Stolk came to the United States in 1910, one year after their son came to this country. William Stolk is still living in Grand Rapids, but his wife died at Grand Rapids, Michigan, in November, 1919. Bastian Stolk was educated in the Netherlands and in 1909 came to the United States. He settled at Goshen, Indiana, where he became an apprentice at the machinists’ and carpenters’ trades. He worked at this for two years and then engaged in business for himself as a manufacturer of hand screws and clamps for the furniture trade of Grand Rapids. After a ten-year residence in Goshen, he decided that a move to Grand Rapids, where he was marketing the major portion of his products, would be advisable, and accordingly, he took up his residence there in 1919. He continued in the same manufacturing work in which he engaged in Goshen, Indiana, and in 1922 he took in his brother-in-law, Peter De Clark, into partnership with him, an arrangement which is still effective. At that time, the firm adopted the name of the Superior Hand Screw and Clamp Company. Hand screws, hand clamps, and horse clamps are manufactured by the company, which has developed an extensive trade among the furniture manufacturers of Grand Rapids. In addition to this sort of manufacturing, the company also makes truck bodies as a side line. In June, 1918, he married Miss Dena De Lange, the daughter of Marinus De Lange, who came to the United States in 1915 following the death of his wife in the Netherlands. Marinus De Lange now makes his home with Mr. Stolk. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Stolk as follows: William M., Marinus W., Dirk, and Marie. Mr. Stolk and his family are affiliated with the Netherlands Reformed church of Grand Rapids.

Transcriber: Mary Huizen
Created: 12 March 2003