When Johann Van der Veen was born on 19 November 1860, in Franekeradeel, Friesland, Netherlands, his father, Marten van der Veen, was 28 and his mother, Tietje Alberts Hiemstra, was 29. He married Johanna Van den Berg on 14 March 1886, in Franeker, Friesland, Netherlands. They were the parents of at least 5 sons and 1 daughter. He lived in Kent, Michigan, United States in 1900. He died on 29 August 1934, in Grand Rapids, Kent, Michigan, United States, at the age of 73, and was buried in Washington Park Cemetery, Grand Rapids, Kent, Michigan Territory, United States.