"Portrait and Biographical Record of Portland and Vicinity, Oregon." Authors: "a
compilation of this work....by a number of writers".  Chapman Publishing Co;
Chicago, 1903. p. 837.
 
MARION VERSTEEG

     The name of Versteeg has been associated with brick manufacturing in
Portland since the year after the termination of the Civil war. Marion Versteeg
and his brother, G. N., comprise the firm of Versteeg Brothers, the former of
whom was born in Portland, November 22, 1871. The parents were Nicholas and
Gerrigje (Reitveldt) Versteeg, born near Amsterdam, Holland, and the latter is
living at the old home on the corner of Nineteenth and Thurman streets,
Portland.  When fifteen years old Nicholas Versteeg came to the United States
and at Pella, Iowa, began the manufacture of brick. In 1866 he came to Portland,
and on the corner of Park and Oak streets started a similar enterprise, which
was a success from the start. Later the concern was located on the present site
of the Portland high-school, and later still Mr. Versteeg took as partner Thomas
Richardson, at which time the plant was removed to the corner of Nineteenth and
Vaughn streets. The final location of the plant was at Twenty-fifth and St.
Helens road, where the firm had twelve and a half acres, and where they were
still operating at the time of Mr. Versteeg's death, April 9, 1894. However,
successful as he was as a brick manufacturer, Mr. Versteeg was equally fortunate
in his selection of other fields of activity. For many years he was engaged in
the lumber business, and was one of the organizers and chief promoters of the
Northern Pacific Lumber Company, in which he owned a third interest, and of
which he was vice-president and director until his death. Previous to
establishing the lumber business he used to do all of the hauling for the old
Weidlers mill, and the Willamette Steam Lumber Manufacturing Company. He owned a
ranch of two hundred and twenty-eight acres near Hillsboro, Washington county,
the management of which he superintended himself, and which netted him a
handsome income. Politically he was a Democrat, and was identified with the
Presbyterian Church. To himself and wife were born six children: Emerinus, a
retired brick manufacturer living in Fernwood; Marion and G. N., who form the
firm of Versteeg Brothers; John, deputy in the county sheriff's office; Dirkje,
the wife of W. A. Storey, sheriff of Clackamas county ; and Emma, Mrs. Dunbar,
whose husband is a grocer on the corner of First and Main streets, Portland.
     While still attending the public schools Marion Versteeg became interested
in his father's brick business, and in time assumed charge of its management.
After the death of his father Mr. Versteeg started to manufacture brick at the
old yard on St. Helens road, and in 1900 located at his present place, which
consists of fifteen acres. The plant is equipped with all modern improvements,
including two steam-power brick machines, which have increased the capacity of
the yards to forty-eight thousand per clay. The partnership with his brother was
undertaken in 1900, and the association is bound to result in great gain for all
concerned. The location of the plant is an admirable one, and the available clay
produces a superior kind of brick.
     In Portland Mr. Versteeg was united in marriage with Bertha Walker, who was
born in Germany, and who is the mother of one child, Raymond. The Versteeg
brothers are among the most substantial and reliable business men of Portland,
and enjoy to the fullest extent the confidence of the community in which they
live.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in August 2008 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.