The Family of Dirk Gerkes Postma

This is the second in a series of 12 articles about emigrants from the Frisian municipality of Dantumadeel, who settled in Pella, Iowa. This article was written by Kor Postma and translated by Thys de Jong. … [Read more...]

The family of Pieter Oebeles Viersen

This is the first of a series of 12 articles about emigrants from the Frisian municipality of Dantumadeel, who settled in Pella, Iowa. This article was written by Kor Postma and translated by Thys de Jong. … [Read more...]

Debbink, Hendrik Jan and Berendina Dunnewold

Hendrik Jan Debbink and Berendina Dunnewold were a part of the second emigration wave to hit Winterswijk in the 1860s. They emigrated when he was already 69 years old, together with their family of four children. They joined Berendina Dunnewold's brother, Jan Willem Dunnewold, who was a minister in Sheboygan County, WI. … [Read more...]

Huinink, Derk Willem X Catharina Jentink

Derk Willem Huinink and Catharina Jentink were part of the second emigration wave in the nineteenth century. They emigrated from their Aalten home in 1869 together with their extended family. They settled in Town of Holland, Sheboygan County, WI. … [Read more...]

Bosman, Derk Hendrik and Grada Hendrika Tammel

Derk Hendrik Bosman, his wife Grada Hendrika Tammel and their children emigrated from Gelderland to Holland, Michigan in 1882. A short while after they arrived, Grada Hendrika wrote a letter to her family back home. In this letter she writes about the reception in Holland. … [Read more...]

Boerrigter, Jan Antonie

Jan Antonie Boerrigter emigrated to the United States in 1910 from Overijssel. Almost half a century later, he wrote to his aunt and uncle in the Netherlands. He shares much information about his family and is curious about the Netherlands. … [Read more...]

Beij, unknown family

The Beij family emigrated from Leiderdorp, Zuid-Holland to the United States in 1860 and settled in Paterson, NJ. Miss Beij wrote back to her old neighbors in the Netherlands. This letter still exists today. Unfortunately, it is not known (yet) who this family is. … [Read more...]

Haartman, Evert and Janna Berendina Beskers

Evert Haartman was one of the pioneers who settled in Sheboygan County. He came to the country as a young man and later married a wife who had come straight from Holland. … [Read more...]

Donck, Adriaen van der

Adriaen van der Donck has been described as one of the first true Americans: a man with more loyalty for his new country than his old. After obtaining a law degree, he left for the New Netherlands in 1641 to help establish law and order in the colony. At this time, the colony was under the leadership of the Dutch West Indies Company who appointed a governor to enforce their will. Adriaen van der Donck wanted the colonists to have the same rights as citizens of other Dutch towns, a viewpoint … [Read more...]

Lubbers, Hendrikus and Marijke Lubbers

Hendrikus Lubbers and his family joined the Seceded community in Enter, Overijssel. They were one of many Seceders who emigrated from the Netherlands in 1847. Hendrikus was planning to study to be a minister. However, another fate awaited him across the ocean. The entire family perished on Lake Michigan when their vessel, the Phoenix, caught on fire. … [Read more...]