Jacob Van Vliet Pages 318-319 - Jacob Van Vliet, who is at the head of the tailoring establishment of Van Vliet Brothers & Viet, of Grand Rapids, was born in Rotterdam, Holland, July 25, 1862, the son of Rutherford and Helen (Bisdom) Van Vliet, both natives of the Netherlands, where the former was born October 24, 1835, dying in Grand Rapids, September 28, 1910, and the later of whom was born August 17, 1836, dying in Grand Rapids, July 17, 1910. He was one of a family of nine children born to his parents, the others being: Helen, born January 27, 1861; Cornelia, July 7, 1864; Marie, born July 6, 1866; Magdalena, born July 29, 1868; Herbert, who was born April 3, 1873; John, born May 24, 1875; Dirk, born May 5, 1877, and Nellie, who was born March 27, 1881. Jacob Van Vliet was educated in the Netherlands, and when he had attained the age of twenty-four years he came to the United States, landing here March 26, 1886. He returned to Holland in December, 1888, on a visit, and his glowing accounts of the opportunities in the United States induced his parents to come to this country. He returned March 1, 1889, his parents following two months later. Since the completion of his education, Jacob Van Vliet has followed the tailoring business until now he is the head of the firm of Van Vliet Brothers & Viet, tailors, one of the largest and most favorably recognized institutions of its kind in the city of Grand Rapids. Mr. Van Vliet was married on August 22, 1889, to Miss Gertie Van Buren, the daughter of Jacob and Adriana (Ver Schoor) Van Buren, of Maasland, Netherlands. To this union have been born nine children as follows: Rutherford, May 21, 1890; Jennie, February 3, 1892; Helen, August 24, 1895, the wife of S. C. McEwen; Minnie, September 21, 1897; Ethel, deceased; Ethel, June 16, 1900;Richard, October 5, 1903; Jack, deceased, and Alice Marie, November 16, 1908. During the World war, Rutherford Van Vliet enlisted in the United States Army. He was sent to officers training school at Petersburg, Virginia, where he won the commission of first lieutenant of engineers and was assigned to the 307th Engineers at Camp Funston, Kansas. After the signing of the armistice, he was transferred to Muscle Shoals, Alabama, where he was placed in charge until September 1, 1919. He is now the superintendent of a gas plant at Mobile, Alabama. Jacob Van Vliet is a Mason, having attained the Consistory.

Transcriber: Nancy Myers
Created: 12 March 2003