Born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, a son of Jasper and Polly Black, a grandson of Daniel Van Vliet, an 18th century Dutch immigrant. The family moved to PA when he was a child where he received a moderate education, and he became an exceptional hunter, and a sharpshooter, a soldier in the War of 1812, before becoming a surveyor. He began a westward move to Ohio, and spent time on the Mississippi River going to St. Louis. He married Rebecca Frazey of Ohio with whom he had five children. He worked on the Erie Canal, and met Micahah Williams, Byron Kilbourn, Increase Lapham and Samuel Farrer, forming lifetime friendships. He received the contract to survey new townships in Milwaukee, Waukesha, and Washington counties, which were done during 1836. In 1837 he laid out the towns of Dubuque and Mineral Point. He bought 240 acres at the land sale at Green Bay, WI in 1835, which became Quentin's Park, then Schlitz Park in what was to become the City of Milwaukee. Vliet became very involved in the 1852 railroad venture where he lost a fortune. Soon thereafter, he was hired to survey land for the LaCrosse and Milwaukee railroads, which later became a part of the Milwaukee Road. Apparently he was paid very little for that work. He lived quietly for the rest of his life, highly respected, avoiding most public life, with the exception of being a member of the first Constitutional Convention in 1846. He lies in an unmarked grave in the western part of Section 31, adjacent to the road on the north side of the section, very nearly across from Byron Kilbourn's grave. Along with him lie the bodies of Mary M. Vliet, Abram Vliet, and his wife Rebecca. Other members of the Vliet family are also interred at Forest Home. Vliet Street was named in his honor.