Peter Meijer is an American politician and business analyst serving as the U.S. representative for Michigan’s 3rd congressional district since 2021.
Peter Meijer Great-Grandparents: Meet Hendrik Meijer And Gezina Meijer
Hendrik Meijer and Gezina Meijer were the great-grandparents of Peter Meijer.
Peter Meijer’s great-grandmother Gezina Meijer born Gezina Mantel was the daughter of anarchist and socialist organizers.
His great-grandfather Hendrik Meijer was a Dutch-American businessman who founded the supercenter chain Meijer. Hendrik was born on December 28, 1883, in Hengelo, Netherlands.
At the age of 12, Meijer worked at a Stock B.V. mill. Anarchist and socialist views were imposed on him during that time. He began distributing pamphlets and posters in support of these ideologies and criticizing Dutch colonialism.
Meijer then joined the Dutch military to avoid further factory work. After leaving the military, he met his wife Gezina Mantel. Hendrik immigrated to the United States with his parents and sister in 1907.
In 1912, Gezina Mantel arrived in the United States and the two settled in Greenville, Michigan. The pair married on November 11, 1912, to commemorate the date anarchists were executed following the Haymarket affair. That same year Meijer opened a barber shop in Greenville.
In 1934, Hendrik Meijer entered the grocery business during the Great Depression in an unrented building he constructed beside his barbershop. At the time, he borrowed $338.76 to purchase goods for the unused space, believing that if they did not sell, his family could use them. With the help of his son Frederik, the two began to operate the grocery store.
In 1962, Meijer and his son Frederik pioneered the superstore concept with the opening of Thrifty Acres in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
On May 31, 1964, Meijer died at the age of 80 and Frederik took his position to lead the supermarket chain.
Hendrik Meijer and his wife Gezina Meijer had two children; Frederik Meijer and Johanna Meijer.