A family story in Antwerp: Grisar, Havenith, Eeckhout

Jean Martin Grisar (1780-1853) arrives in Antwerp from Nievern (Duchy of Nassau) in 1804 to participate to the relaunch of the international trade initiated by Napoleon with the reopening of the Scheldt, the opening of shipyards to build vessels able to cross the oceans and the building of the Napoleon doc.

In 1807 he married in Antwerp Suzanne Cailly Duverger born in Rouen. They had 6 children; Albert composer of several operas, Felix Gabriel our ancestor, Julie Grisar married with Louis Falcon, Emile  merchant/trader lived in San Franciso in 1849, Gustave copartner in Antwerp of the Grisar trading business, Jules representing the family business in Valparaiso, Chili in 1851.

In 1811 Jean Martin has been appointed by Napoleon as independent trading and shipping broker and developed with his company Jean Martin Grisar a well-established  trade of leather and animal skins between South America and Antwerp. Transported by sailing ships in average 30 day.

 

Felix Gabriel Grisar (1811-1873)  married Constance Govaerts  in 1841. They had 3 children, Gabrielle who died at 20 years in 1862, Marie-Louise who married Eugène Joseph Kreglinger and Ernest Paul Grisar who developed further the international trading of the family business.

Felix created the Liberal Party of Antwerp in 1857 and was counselor of the town of Antwerp  between 1852 and 1862.

Together with a german engineer and other international traders, Felix Grisar created in 1863 the Société de Fray Bentos Giebert and Co in Antwerp. This was the start of the world well known Liebig Extract of Meat Company. The international trading expertise and South America network of the Grisars contributed to this success.

Co-founder in 1882 of the local Bell Telephone Company. The first telephone link in Antwerp has been established between the offices of Grisar and those of Osterrieth.

Constance Grisar built several houses in Antwerp on pieces of land herited from her father. At the decease of Felix Gabriel she donated an important amount to the town of Antwerp to build the International house of sailors to offer to those when arriving in Antwerp a decent housing.

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Ernest Paul Grisar (1844-1899),  married Adèle Van den Nest in Antwerp in 1867. They had 3 children; Valentine Blanche, Louise Justine and Alfred Felix.

He extended the international trading activities of Grisar & Co by adding the trade of rubber from Congo.

Travelled a lot to extend his business.  He was an appreciated trade advisor of King Leopold II.

Built several houses and warehouses in Antwerp. Bought an important piece of land near  Antwerp called  Kiel. He donated a part of this land to his children in 1899 to create the Beerschot Athletic Club.

 

Adèle Grisar supported the international trade of her husband with her brothers Hippolyte, Arthur, and Amede active in the political and diplomatic world all over the world. (Belgium, USA, Egypt, Ottoman empire).

She had her own foundations to help abandoned children and has been recognizes for this.

 The Grisar grave is located at Schoonselhof in Antwerp.

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Valentine Blanche Grisar (1868-1962) married in 1889 Paul Havenith . Both were very active in the start and management of the Beerschot Athletic Club as well as convincing the International Olympic Committee to organize the VII Olympic Games in 1920 in Antwerp hosted at the Beerschot Olympic stadium.

They had two sons Pierre, died very young, and Rene Havenith.

Alfred Grisar, educated in Brighton (UK) and player of several English sports, had the idea to create in Antwerp a multi-sport club.

He created the Beerschot Athletic Club in 1899. His brother in law Paul Havenith chaired an managed the club during 40 years. Alfred was also an excellent international player of Polo.

He worked for Liebig in Montevideo and afterwards in Buenos Aires.

 

Rene Havenith (1890-1958), married in 1913 Marcelle Gevers (1890-1981). They had 6 children.

Rene was stockbroker, Board Member of the Liebig Cie, and the Beerschot Athletic Club.

Marcelle Gevers is member of the family Gevers in Antwerp mainly active in trading of sugar and producer of chocolate.

 

The Havenith grave is located at Schoonselhof, near the Grisar grave

 

Solange Havenith married in 1943 with Raymond Eeckhout (1912-1957). They had 3 children ; Catherine, Philippe (deceased in  ) and Michel

Raymond was owner of the insurance broker  Max Soetens & Co. He died at 45 years due to a car accident in 1957 in Kapellen. He was reserve Major of the Belgian Army.

He has  been from 1940 on an official recognized armed resistant of the Secret Army. Active during the whole period of the German occupation. His network has been denounced  in 1943 and he was researched  by the Germans. He had to hide himself, his wife and his daughter Catherine in  the maquis of Genval. Participated actively to the combats to liberate Antwerp and surroundings.

At his decease Solange took over the management of the family businesses and assumed the education of her 3 children.

The Eeckhout grave is located at Fredegandus, Deurne, and is going to be restored in 2025. The grave is under the ‘peterschap/sponsorship’ of the family Eeckhout.

 

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Michel Eeckhout born in Antwerp on 2 nov 1949, married Genevieve Letzer in Brasschaat in 1978.  They have 3 children;

Eglantine is born in Antwerp in 1979.

Charles-Edouard  born in Laeken in 1983. He married Sybille Lancksweert at Bois d’Haumont on 9 July 2021.

Martin-Frederic born in Laeken in 1983. He married Virginie de Meeûs d’Argenteuil in Brussels on 1 June 2018.

Michel Eeckhout retired in 2013 as Honorary Executive Vice President of the Delhaize Group, operating supermarkets in the US, Europe and Asia. He assumed since 1987 consecutively at Group level the responsibilities of Information Technology, Supply Chain, Indirect Procurement, CEO of Delhaize Belgium, Luxemburg and Germany.

He has been Chairman and/or Director of different companies of the economic, social and cultural world.