The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-02-26
H)UNDER OF
BIG; PLANTS
SUMMONED
|l& Y. Industries Presi'
dent Passes Away in
Moline; III a Year.

I&k v. INDUSTRIES III East NoIne'
eminent in manufacturing activ-
- and during wartime high in
xunsels Of labor boards and muni-
fioa production, died at 11:20 last
,irht at the family residence, 2711
rshth avenue, Moline. Death
ssded an illness of more than a
ynr and the end last night was not
inspected by friends and assO-
tiaies of the manufacturer who for
weeks were aware of his critical
illness.
Funeral services, which will not
y private, will be at the home in
roline at 8 O'clock Monday after
non. Rev. P. C. Ladd, pastor Of the
hnt Congregational church, Mo-
line, will be in charge. The body
Wi be placed in the mausoleum in
riverside. The home will be open
rom 10 to L. Monday morning to
friends and especially for R., & v.
employees who will have this oppor-
unity to pay final respect to the
plant president.
Mr. Van Dervoort had been i'll for
more than year. He was stricken
~. 13, 1920, and for nine months
nst had been confined to his bed.
Hs suffered stroke OF paralysis in
Nv last year, later in the summer
nfered a second and the third
Rruke came in the fall. He spent
lsveral weeks at Higgins Lake,
nIch., but returned to Moline last
0sptember.
The death Of Mr.. vanDervoort
doses a rather remarkable career
md takes from the community one
its most widely known manufac-
turers and engineers. His life had
heen devoted to the business which
bsars his name, and the success,
hat he had achieved, both for him.
self and the r. & v. Industries, wa,
he result of unceasing labor, cou.
Dled with exceptional engineering
idll and a marked capacity for or.
sanization.
Mr.. VanDervoort was born Feb
=. 1869, in Ypsilanti, Mich. He at.
tended Michigan Agricultural col.
lege at Lansing as q student in the
nechanical engineering depart.
nent Following his graduation
nom this institution in 1889 he en-
tared Cornell university for post
psduate work in his chosen pro
isssion. He returned to Michigan
Agricultural college as an instruc.
tor in the department of mechani.
a engineering, and continued il
hat capacity until 1893. when ht
accepted position in the mechan.
iAl engineering department of tht
University Of Illinois. He remain
g with the state university unit
iSss. serving as assistant professor
q mechanical engineering. He de-
clined tempting offers in education.
work to devote himself to man
ufacturing.
Forms Partnership.
At Michigan Agricultural collegs
~. VanDervoort and O. j. Roo
aad been roommates and class
mates, and in 1899 they formed &
partnership for the manufacture o.
nsoline engines and locomotiv.
specialties. They established {
modest factory at Champaign. Twt
Nars later. attracted by the advan
oses Of this community, they re
moved the business to East Moline
sad In a small building ON Nintl
1reet started the enterprise destin
u TO become one Of the most i'm
poftant in this locality.
In those days the r. & v. bust
sess was limited indeed. The fac
0ry was an humble affair witt
soout dozen workmen compris
,as Its entire force. The younl
aead OF the business was one Of tn,
most energetic workers in the shop
ae Old machine work and helpe'
semole and load for shipment tn
" engines that were sold in thos
ys. He swept the floor. AM
wong with these duties he fille'
ositions Of general manager. su
wslntendent. buyer and clerk.
IN 1908 the Moline Automobil
wvmpany was organized and MI
MnDervoort became its presiden
ao general manager. A little late
e business was moved to the sit
seventh street. where as tn
Gra went by Q score Of big ney
sudings were addeds one by on
: meet the requirements Of tn
sadly growing r. & v. bushes.
rom time to time there wer
ages in the corporations, an
- VanDervoort headed all Of tn
porahons controlling the var
esat years.
Wrote Scientific Treatise.
ne was widely recognized as q
aorfty on mechanical engineer
and was the author of . tez
- on Machine Shop Tools an
P1ctice." He was the au
OF . number Of articles In sci
Sanc and technical publication
tcontinued ON Page sixteen.)