Descendants of Willem Willems
de Oude [Nijdam]
Generation No. 11 & 12
Wedding Photo 1916
Born in Friesland, Al immigrated to
Chicago with his family at the age of 12 years.
He worked for the Railroad in Blue
Island for a time, and said there were so many immigrants working
there that he could say "Good Morning"
in 8 different languages.
His mother died in 1909, and by 1916
Al was living in Grand Rapids, MI & had married a Grand Rapids girl,
Marie Barlow.
Al worked in sheet metal, plumbing and
heating throughout his life, first with Foster & Stevens, and then
(until his
partner Frank Oole died) at 950 E.
Fulton St.where his company Nydam & Oole was located.
He then worked as a manufacturers rep
for Armstrong Furnace Co. in Columbus, OH from 1937-38, and
during WWII as a Michigan distributor
for Richards Manufacturing.
In 1946 he formed A.J.Nydam Co at 2630
So Division Ave.
