Legislator Details
Vital Records Information:
Marital Information:
married Juliet C. Carpenter, daughter of Thomas J. Carpenter, 7/3/1872; children: 3, Edith A., James C. and Daisy or Delia
Number of Children: 3
Background
Education:
graduated from the law dept. of University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, 1870.
Biographical Sketch:
Of Dutch and Irish ancestry. Son of Robert & Catherine (McManus) Van Kleek. At 16, he enlisted in Co. D, 17th Michigan Volunteer Infantry, 6/6/1862. Discharged 1/1863 after a shot in the side struck his spine, he returned to high school in Monroe. He began reading law a year later with a law firm then entered law school in 1868. Upon graduation, he moved from Monroe to Midland in fall, 1870 to practice law. He served as county prosecuting attorney and city attorney for several years. He moved to Bay City in 1885, forming a law firm with George W. Mann. He was appointed Commissioner of Immigration by Gov. Alger in 1885 but was elected Bay County prosecuting attorney in 1886. He served a a member of the Board of Education [4 years, and 2 years as its president]. member of the Masons, the Order of United Workmen and the GAR.
Notable Facts:
Served on the Committees on Judiciary & State University.
Death certificate says he was born in 1845; Men of Progress says 1846.