Dr. Al VanderKloot's Letter to Dave Jordan - March 3, 1979
Background:
As follow are excerpts from a letter from Dr. Al VanderKloot to Dave Jordan. Dr. Al's grandparents were Matthijs and Trijntje Vanderkloot. His father was Peter Vanderkloot who married Bertha Dros.

A. VanderKloot, M. D.
4454 North Mozart Street
Chicago, Illinois 60625

March 3, 1979

Dear Dave and Family,
Thank you for the Story of Adrianus and Martha Vanderkloot. We have been very interested in our family history and as I am the oldest they persuaded me to dictate a family interest and my grandson have copies of this to date.

My father was Peter and he first came to Chicago with Marinus and Adrianus. They worked for their Uncle at the foundry. A few years later he (Peter) went back and brought his parents to Chicago. At first they lived in a cottage next to the foundry. I could write volumes about these years as this is all in my childhood.

We know very little about the Vanderkloots in Holland but we know very much about the Dros family. Corrine has been to Europe at least 12 to 15 times and she is in close contact with the Dros family. My wife and I were in Europe last year (seventh trip) and stayed at a Dros house.

We have not been able to contact any Vanderkloots. I made visits to Texel Holland as a boy and this year we again visited Texel and especially the village of Cocksdorp.

My grandson, Peter, 15 years old wrote to me just two weeks ago, as he is interested in the family history. When he finishes his record I will send you a copy. Peter lives in Long Island. His father William is a professor at Stony Brook.

I will keep in touch with you as I learn new family facts.

Thank you for the copies.

Sincerely
Al VanderKloot


Letter Comments
  • Dr. Al Vanderkloot was born April 29, 1893.
  • Corrine was born in March 1900 and was Dr. Al's sister.
  • Dr. Al suggests that Peter, Adrianus and Marinus all came together. We know Adrianus came in August 1881.
  • It is interesting to note that Peter went back to get his parents. Certainly a very nice gesture on his part to take the time to go back and provide them assistance.
  • Al chose to write Vanderkloot as one word, but with a capital "K" in the middle.