Biography of John R. Kleyn Among the many industries of the thriving city of Holland, that of theNovelty Wood Works has gained a prominent footing, and within the last few yearshas assumed gigantic proportions. John R. KLEYN, the original of this notice,and the sole owner and proprietor of this growing business, has gained for hisestablishment a most enviable reputation for the artistic beauty and generalexcellence of its work, as well as for the prompt and reliable manner in whichall work intrusted to it is executed. Active and enterprising, painstaking inall his undertakings, and liberal in his methods of dealing with the public, hehas greatly and steadily extended the field of his operations. Mr. KLEYN wasborn in the Netherlands, February 21, 1841, and his father, Leander KLEYN, wasalso a native of Holland. The elder Mr. KLEYN was a builder by trade, andsuperintendent of the Government works at three different places. He was marriedin his native country to Miss Heiltje Wilhelmina KORTEWEG, and in 1854 broughthis family to America. He came direct to Holland, Michigan, where he engaged inbuilding and contracting, being among the pioneers of the place. Only a fewyears later, in 1857, he passed to that bourne from which no traveler returns.His marriage resulted in the birth of five children, four of whom are living atthe present time, and in the order of their births as follows: John R.; Johanna,who is married, and resides in North Carolina; Jane, deceased; Robert, aresident of Holland, Michigan.; and Martin. The father of these children servedsix years in the army in his native country; he was at the battle of Antwerp,and later wore the Maltese cross of honor. He held membership in the ReformedChurch, and was a prominent man in religious circles. The original of thisnotice was about thirteen years of age when he came to this country, andreceived the principal part of his education before crossing the ocean."When sixteen years of age he started out to learn the carpenter's trade,but two years previous to that had received some instruction in that trade fromhis father. He also learned architecture, the most of it out of books, for hehas ever been a great student, and became unusually proficient in that. In 1878he engaged in the hardware business, followed this for four years with goodsuccess, and then established the Novelty Wood Works, which he has conducted upto the present. He employs fifteen men right along, but has employed as many asforty or fifty at a time. Mr. KLEYN manufactures all kinds of building material,and has a great deal of work on large contracts for New York. The building inwhich he does business is a handsome and substantial structure, the main partbeing 50x100 feet. Our subject started out for himself with a great amount ofpluck and energy, but little else, and is a self-made man in every sense of theterm. Being the eldest of five children, when his father died the support of thefamily fell on his shoulders. He struggled along for years under hardships thatwould have discouraged a less determined or positive character, and is now oneof the prominent and successful business- men of the city of Holland. His motherdied in 1879. Politically, Mr. KLEYN is an independent Republican, and hasadvocated the principles of that party since the Rebellion. For two years he wasAlderman of the city, Assessor for about six years, and has held otherpositions, although he has never been an office-seeker. In the year 1861 lie wasmarried to Miss Dirkje Johanna WALING, the daughter of Simon WALING, who wasborn in the Netherland, and came to America at an early date. Mr. and Mrs. KLEYNhad born to their union nine children. Leonard is engaged in the lumber businesswith his father, and is foreman of the latter's yard; Lemer makes his home inHolland; Minnie, wife of Alfred WRIGHT, resides in Chicago; Henry resides atSidney, Nebraska; George is at home, as is also Josephine, who has justgraduated from the High School; and Anna, Fred, Simon and Maude are all at home.Mr. KLEYN is a member of the Reformed Church, and a man who has won a high placein the opinion of all acquainted with him. He is a stockholder in theCAPPON-BERTSCH Leather Company, and is a wide-awake, thorough-going businessman.
|
Created: 12 August 2002
URL: Return to Bios Index