Jacob M. Vander Wal

Jacob M. VanderWal, clerk of the Superior court, is a native of the Netherlands, born on December 24, 1879, He came to Grand Rapids in June, 1881, with his parents, Merndert and Grietje (Ellens) VanderWal. His mother died in 1898 at the age of thirty-eight and the father is now living at the age of sixty-nine. Jacob was the oldest of the twelve children in this family. He received his education in the free schools and public schools of Grand Rapids, but at the age of thirteen left school and clerked in a grocery store. He engaged in that employment until he reached the age of twenty-two years, when he advanced to the position of city salesman for E. R. Wiersma Manufacturing Company. After two years of that employment he conducted a retail meat wagon for five years and was also city salesman for Schwarzchild & Sulzberger, now Wilson & Company, wholesale meats. In 1915 he entered upon his career of political activity. His father had for many years been an active Republican political worker. Jacob VanderWal’s first political service was rendered as deputy sheriff under Sheriff Berry. He was then appointed bailiff of the Superior court and in 1917 was appointed clerk of the Superior court, the position which he has efficiently held since that time. His religious affiliation is actively connected with the Christian Reformed church, of which institution he has been an officeholder for many years. He has also been very active in his assistance along the line of educational matters. He was a member of the Board of Grand Rapids high school for four years and served as a member of the Board of Baxter Street Christian School for ten years, and for the past three years he has been teaching Americanization in the evening class of the public school. April 10, 1902, he was united in marriage with Miss Wilhelmina Hoorn, who was also a native of the Netherlands. She came to Grand Rapids in 1881 and received her education in the Grand Rapids public school. The children of Mr. and Mrs. VanderWal are: Maynard, who was born June 17, 1903, and received his education in the free schools of the city and Calvin college, and is now employed with Kent State Savings Bank; John, born on November 30, 1906, who received his education in the free schools and was graduated from the Grand Rapids Christian high school, and is now a sophomore at Calvin college; James H., born June 18, 1909, who is at this time a student in the Grand Rapids Christian high school, and Gerald W., born January 15, 1911.