Background
Antwerp, Eugene Ignatius Van was born on July 26, 1889 in Detroit, Michigan, United States. Son of Eugene Charles and Cecilia Mary (Renaud) Van Antwerp.
Antwerp, Eugene Ignatius Van was born on July 26, 1889 in Detroit, Michigan, United States. Son of Eugene Charles and Cecilia Mary (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 University 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. 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.
He died on August 5, 1962. In 1911, Van Antwerp married Mary Fances McDevitt.
The couple had eleven children: Dolores, Pauline, Loretta, Eugene, Joseph, Gore, Joan, Agnes, George, Dacia, and Daniel. Van Antwerp was elected to the Detroit City Council in 1932.
He served continuously from 1932.to 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 1938-1939. 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 time 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 death.
Served as First lieutenant 16th Engineers, United States Army, 1917-1918. Member City Council of Detroit, 1932-1947, 50-62. Member Veterans of Foreign Wars (commander-in-chief 1938-1939.
Member French Veterans of Michigan.
Member Ancient Order Hibernians.
Married Mary Frances McDevitt, June 21, 1911. Children: Mary Dolores, Pauline Annetta (Mistress Robert Denton), Frances Lauretta (Mistress Julius Aloysius Jaeger), Eugene Ignatius, Francis Joseph, Anthony Gore, Joan Cecilia (Mistress John Francis Shannon, Junior.