Edsko Hekman came to Grand Rapids, Michigan from the Netherlands in 1893 with the hope of finding his life work as a furniture maker. Inopportunely, the panic of 1893 lead him in a different direction back to his roots as a baker. His door to door cookie sales led to Hekman Biscuit Company which became the Keebler Company. However, his dream of being a furniture maker eventually came true with his three sons when they founded Hekman Furniture Company in 1922. Hekman is or has been associated with Beatrice Foods, Howard Miller Clock Company, and Woodmark Furniture, and is still a maker of fine furniture today.