ten Hoor, Frederick (1893-1980) | Heritage Hall, Hekman Library

Born at Franeker, Friesland, in the Netherlands in 1893 of Foppe and Elizabeth ten Hoor, Frederick came to Grand Rapids in 1895 when his father became pastor of the Oakdale Park Christian Reformed Church.  He attended local Christian day-schools and Calvin College.

After serving in World War I and realizing he could never make a living writing poetry, which he had begun to do when he was 19 years old, he took employment with a shirt company, and later, in the City Engineer's office in Grand Rapids.  In 1935 he became associated with a rug manufacturing company, where he remained until his retirement in 1973.

He spent his retirement years at his country residence overlooking Perch Lake.  In 1980, he died of a heart attack, leaving his widow, Marie Louserse, 2 sons and a daughter.