Govert Keppel Govert Keppel is numbered among the successful and efficient business men ofZeeland, where he has resided for many years. He is a native of the province ofSouth Holland, the Netherlands, and was born December 15, 1839, being the son ofHuibert and Margaret (DeJong) Keppel. His paternal grandparents Teunis andJenneke Keppel, were also of Dutch birth and parentage. Huibert Keppel was bornFebruary 12, 1805, and grew to manhood in the land of his nativity. In 1847,accompanied by his family, he took passage on a vessel bound for America, butwas shipwrecked and obliged to remain in England for nine weeks before the shipcould pursue its onward course. Although he left Holland in October, he did notland in New Orleans until the 14th of the following April. Having abrother in Keokuk, Iowa, Huibert Keppel proceeded up the Mississippi River tothat point, and in May, 1848, came to Zeeland, Mich., where he purchased a yokeof oxen and eighty acres of land. In addition to farming interests, he alsoengaged extensively in buying and selling flour, meeting with considerablesuccess in that undertaking. Politically, he is a Republican, and has served innumerous official capacities, among which may be mentioned that of member of theSchool Board. In the Reformed Church he occupied the position of Deacon for manyyears. He is a man of energy and high capabilities, and although he has met withmany obstacles in life, success has crowned his well-directed efforts and he nowoccupies a prominent position among the citizens of his community. Huibert Keppel has been three times married, and by his first union had ninechildren, six of whom survived to mature years: Kunder, whose death occurred inZeeland; Teunis, who enlisted in the Thirteenth Michigan Infantry, and died inthe Kalamazoo Hospital; Jenneke; Govert; Herbert, who died at the age offorty-three; and Dirk, who enlisted in Compay D, Twenty-fifth Michigan Infantry,and was killed on Wilmington Island, near the city of Savannah, April 16, 1862.The mother of these children died in Holland in 1844. She was a daughter ofGovert DeJong, a hotel-keeper in that country. The second wife of Mr. Keppel wasDirkje Den Hertog, who died in Zeeland. The third wife was Mrs. Boar, who is nowdeceased. After carrying on his studies in the district schools for a few years, oursubject began to make his own way in the world, at the age of twelve. Heremained in his father’s employ until he was twenty-five, after which heengaged in the mercantile business in Zeeland for two years. Subsequent to this,he purchased an eighty-acre farm, where for four years he tilled the soi andsuccessfully conducted agricultural pursuits. Upon disposing of his farm in1872, he embarked in the milling business, and in 1877 purchased a one-thirdinterest in the concern. Later he bought out the interests of his partners, andno owns the mill, which he has greatly improved and rendered more valuable bythe introduction of the roller system. In addition to the milling business, Mr. Keppel has other valuable interestsin the village where he makes his home. He was one of the organizers of thefurniture factory, in which he is now a stockholder. He is a stanch Republicanin politics, and is now serving his fourth term as President of the village, inwhich capacity he has rendered excellent service to his fellow-citizens, and hasbeen instrumental in introducing a number of needed improvements. As a member ofthe School Board, his labors have been effective in promoting a high grade ofscholarship and in securing the teachers best qualified for the work ofinstruction. June 26, 1865, Mr. Keppel was united in marriage with Miss Magdalena M.,daughter of John and Magdalena M. (Muelendyk) DePree. They were the parents ofseven children, six of whom are living: Huibert, John, Teunis, Magdalena M.,Margaret and Allie. One child, Magdalena, died at the age of two years. Thereligious home of the family is in the Dutch Reformed Church. As the architectof his own fortune, having through energy and tireless effort secured a largemeasure of success, Mr. Keppel is deserving of the high regard in which he isheld by all who know him, and is entitled to more than passing notice inenumerating the successful men of Ottawa County.

Transcriber: Evelyn M. Sawyer
Created: 1 September 2003
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