Leonard D'Ooge's biography, Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan Copyright © 2000 by Bryan Taylor. This copy contributed for use in the MIGenWeb Archives. MIGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed MIGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the MIGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file is located at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/kent/grandrapids/bio graphy/o20002.txt Historical Society Records, Vol. 11 Leonard D'Ooge, who for over 30 years has been closely identified with the growth and business interests of this city, died at his residence on Lafayette street, April 12, 1887, at the ripe old age of 71 years. Leonard D'Ooge was born in the province of Zealand, Netherlands, February 14, 1816, and learned the trade of a painter. He was married in 1838 to Johanna Minters, and nine years after came to America, arriving in New York, October 1, 1847. He brought quite a sum of money with him which he invested in business, but being unable to speak English, he was unfortunate and lost his money. He moved westward and located in Ravenna where he lived two years. Being destitute of money he served as mail messenger, traveling on foot from Grand Rapids to Muskegon, making trips semi-weekly at a dollar;1.25 per trip. In 1857, at the solicitation of Father De Kunick, a Catholic priest, he came to Grand Rapids with his family and painted the new Catholic church on Monroe street, continuing to work at his trade about two[p.93] years, when he engaged in mercantile business of a somewhat limited character in a frame building erected by himself on the corner of Monroe and Division streets. He also built a small house and two stores, all of which have been removed and replaced by substantial structures. He leased a large plat of land at $75 dollars per year, and by improving it attracted business to that part of the town at the head of Monroe street. During the crash of '57 he made an assignment for the benefit of his creditors, but on resuming business liquidated his liabilities dollar for dollar. In 1868 he built a business block on Canal street, and in 1869 erected a handsome residence on Lafayette street. In 1870 he retired from active business, bought and built other houses in this city, and has since been occupied in the management of the property he had accumulated. Mr. D'Ooge leaves a wife and five children; Martin L., professor of Greek in the state university at Ann Arbor, who is now at Athens, and Benjamin L., assistant professor of Latin at the same university, Mrs. H. Utterwick, Mrs. J. A. S. Verdier and Jennie C. D'Ooge, who were with him during his last hours. Mr. D'Ooge was an esteemed member of the First Reformed church of this city.[p.94]