Eugene Van Antwerp
Encyclopedia
Eugene Van Antwerp was the mayor of Detroit, Michigan
.
in 1910-1911. He returned to Detroit, working briefly at the Detroit Police Department before going to work as a civil engineer. He did engineering work first for the Michigan Central Railroad
and then for the Grand Trunk Railroad. Van Antwerp served as a captain in the United States Army Corps of Engineers
during World War I
, and was among the first members of the Allied Expeditionary Force to land in France
, serving in 1918-1919. He returned to his position with Grand Trunk after the war. He was chief engineer for the National Survey Service from 1926–1928, after which he went into private practice as an engineer and surveyor.
In 1911, Van Antwerp married Mary Fances McDevitt. The couple had eleven children: Dolores, Pauline, Loretta, Eugene, Joseph, Gore, Joan, Agnes, George, Decia, and Daniel.
in 1932. He served continuously from 1932–1948, when he ran for mayor. During his time on the council, he ran unsuccessfully for county auditor in 1935 and served a stint as the commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars
in 1938-39.
Van Antwerp served a single term as mayor, beating Edward Jeffries
in 1947 but losing in the primary in 1949. He returned to the City Council in 1950, winning a special election in November of that year to replace Edward Jeffries after the latter's death. During his second stint on the council, he ran unsuccessfully for state highway commissioner in 1952 and for United States Congress
in 1955. Van Antwerp served on the council continuously until his own death on August 5, 1962.
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
.
Biography
Eugene Ignatius Van Antwerp was born on July 26, 1889, the son of Eugene C. and Cecelia Renaud Van Antwerp. He was educated in parochial schools and then at the University of Detroit and worked as an instructor in English at Gonzaga UniversityGonzaga University
Gonzaga University is a private Roman Catholic university located in Spokane, Washington, United States. Founded in 1887 by the Society of Jesus, it is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities and is named after the young Jesuit saint, Aloysius Gonzaga...
in 1910-1911. He returned to Detroit, working briefly at the Detroit Police Department before going to work as a civil engineer. He did engineering work first for the Michigan Central Railroad
Michigan Central Railroad
The Michigan Central Railroad was originally incorporated in 1846 to establish rail service between Detroit, Michigan and St. Joseph, Michigan. The railroad later operated in the states of Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois in the United States, and the province of Ontario in Canada...
and then for the Grand Trunk Railroad. Van Antwerp served as a captain in the United States Army Corps of Engineers
United States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and was among the first members of the Allied Expeditionary Force to land in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, serving in 1918-1919. He returned to his position with Grand Trunk after the war. He was chief engineer for the National Survey Service from 1926–1928, after which he went into private practice as an engineer and surveyor.
In 1911, Van Antwerp married Mary Fances McDevitt. The couple had eleven children: Dolores, Pauline, Loretta, Eugene, Joseph, Gore, Joan, Agnes, George, Decia, and Daniel.
Politics
Van Antwerp was elected to the Detroit City CouncilDetroit City Council
The Detroit City Council is the legislative body of Detroit, Michigan, United States. The City Council consists of nine members elected for a four-year term in a single election conducted on an at-large and non-partisan basis...
in 1932. He served continuously from 1932–1948, when he ran for mayor. During his time on the council, he ran unsuccessfully for county auditor in 1935 and served a stint as the commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars
Veterans of Foreign Wars
The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is a congressionally chartered war veterans organization in the United States. Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, VFW currently has 1.5 million members belonging to 7,644 posts, and is the largest American organization of combat...
in 1938-39.
Van Antwerp served a single term as mayor, beating Edward Jeffries
Edward Jeffries
Edward J. Jeffries Jr. was an American politician, councilman, and mayor of Detroit.-Early life:Edward Jeffries was born in Detroit, Michigan On April 3, 1900, the son Judge Edward J. Jeffries and Minnie Stott Jeffries. The elder Jeffries was an alderman, a police justice, and a long-serving...
in 1947 but losing in the primary in 1949. He returned to the City Council in 1950, winning a special election in November of that year to replace Edward Jeffries after the latter's death. During his second stint on the council, he ran unsuccessfully for state highway commissioner in 1952 and for United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
in 1955. Van Antwerp served on the council continuously until his own death on August 5, 1962.