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IMMIGRANT MINISTERS |
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Emigrants from the county of Bentheim who served in North America as ministers of the gospel: |
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IMMIGRANT MINISTERS |
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Emigrants from the county of Bentheim who served in North America as ministers of the gospel: |
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1. Hendrik (Henry) Ahuis
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1865 -
1946. 1876 - 1932.
1834 - 1900. 1840 - 1911.
1838 - 1919. 1836 - 1906. 1928 - |
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Rev.
Hindrik (Henry) Ahuis Rev.
Henry Ahuis was born on January 10, 1865 in Georgsdorf, county of
Bentheim, Germany. His parents were Harm Ahuis and Allien Walkotten. As
a young man in Germany, he read about the need for German speaking
pastors in the American Midwest. This prompted him to emigrate at the
age of 23. He arrived in New York harbor with the ship
"Rotterdam" on .March 26, 1888. Two days later, he arrived in
Grand Rapids, Michigan and worked there for a few years in several
different furniture factories. In
1891, he entered Calvin College, graduating from Calvin Seminary in
1899. His cousins, the Rev. Henry and Rev. John Walkotten were his
classmates. Rev. Ahuis was a member of the Indian and Foreign Missions
board while serving the C.R.C. in Ackley, Iowa. e also was a member of
the board of Calvin College for several years. Throughout his life, he
was able to conduct services in three languages: English, Dutch, and
German. Even in his retirement years, for about a year and a half, Rev. Ahuis held weekly religious services in German for some German prisoners of World War II who were encamped in Fremont, Michigan. Rev. Ahuis was married to Miss Jennie Ensing on May 28, 1902, while he was serving the church at Bunde, Minnesota. She was also a native of the county of Bentheim, the daughter of Hermannes Ensing and Grietje Speet, from Laar. The Ahuis' only daughter Alena is married to Ralph Overset and lives in Fremont, Michigan. Rev. Ahuis died on July 24, 1946 in Fremont, Michigan 81 years old. Rev.
Ahuis served the following Christian Reformed churches: 1. Hull, North Dakota. 1899-1901. Sources: 1.
Banner Scrapbook, Volume 25, pg. 32. (Herrick Public Library,
Holland, Michigan) Rev. Jan Hendrik Beld Rev.
Jan Hendrik Beld (John) was born on January 4, 1876 in Vorwald, parish
of Emlichheim, county of Bentheim, Germany. His parents were Evert Beld
and Christina Kloekhorst. He emigrated to America in 1893. Three of his
sisters, Mrs. Sena Eisen, Mrs. Johanna Scholten, and Mrs. Hindrikin
Zagers, joined him there, all settling with their families in or near
Holland, Michigan. Rev. Beld studied for two years at the U.S. Reformed
Church Mission House near Sheboygan, Wisconsin. In 1907, he graduated
from Calvin Seminary in Grand Rapids. Michigan. He was married to Helena
Jansen and with her had two daughters. He died on March 6, 1932 at the
age of 56 in Comstock Park, a suburb of Grand Rapids, Michigan. His wife
died one year later on October 9, 1933, at age 51. Both are buried at
the Zeeland, Michigan cemetary. Rev.
Beld served the following Christian Reformed churches: 1.
Lamont, Michigan. 1907-1908. Sources: 1.
Yearbook of the C.R.C., 1933, pg. 160; 1985 pg. 424. Rev. Dr. Henricus Beuker Rev. Henricus Beuker was born on June 4, 1834 in Volzel, parish of Emlichheim, county of Bentheim, Germany. His parents were wealthy farmers in the lower county of Bentheim. His father was Berend Jan Beuker from Volzel and his mother's geneology reaches into the von Heest family of Laarwald, part of the nobility of the county of Bentheim. Rev. Beuker and his eight sisters and brother did not grow up in a religious family, they were members of the State church, but had no devotions with the family. It was a . hired man, Gerrit Bouws, who emigrated to America in 1847, who was instrumental in bringing the entire family to Christ. In the history of the Old Reformed church of Emlichheim, It is recorded (page 14) that Rev. Beuker's father, Berend Jan Beuker gave a hundred Gulden towards the purchase of a meeting place for the congregation. Hendrikus Beuker took up his studies for the ministry in 1854, when he was 20 years old, first studying with the local pastors in Uelsen, Germany, and in 1858 entering the Kampen Seminary in the Netherlands. He completed his studies in 1862. . For 38 years, Rev. Beuker worked as a pastor, teacher and writer on two continents, and three countries, Germany, the Netherlands, and America. In 1897, Westminster Seminary gave him an honorary doctorate. Besides preaching and teaching, he was the associate editor of various periodicals in Germany (he founded the Grensbote in 1883 and the Vrije Kerk [Free church] in 1875), The Netherlands, and in America. He also published several books. He was married in September, 1862 to Aaltje van Duyn of Katwijk, The Netherlands. They were blessed with two children, Dr. Bernard Beuker of Ellsworth, Michigan and Mrs. Jakoba Robbert of Holland, Michigan, the wife of Rev. Jan Robbert who is mentioned in a separate sketch. In 1898, Rev. Dr. Beuker wrote a history of the Old Reformed Church in the county of Bentheim, Germany which he called Tubantania. It was translated by Professor Hyma, Mr. Edward Prins, and Mrs. Peter Slenk into English. The English edition was published in 1986 and is available through the Graafschap Historic Library, Holland, Michigan, 49423. Rev. Beuker died on the 18th of May, 1900 in Grand Rapids, Michigan and was buried at the Graafschap Michigan cemetary on 32nd street in the city of Holland. Rev. Beuker served the following churches: 1.
Zwolle Gereformeert Church, The Netherlands, 1862-1864. Sources: Information
for this sketch was received from Rev. G.J. Beuker, 4459 Hoogstede,
Neuringer Strasse 294, West Germany. Rev. Beuker will publish a book on
the life and work of Dr. Hendrikus Beuker in Germany, The Netherlands
and America in the near future. Rev. Egbert Broene Rev.
Egbert Broene was born on January 27, 1840 in the hamlet of Hocklenkamp,
parish of Uelsen, county of Bentheim, Germany. His parents were Harm
Hindrik Broene and Kunnegien Nyboer. On July 31, 1865, his father,
stepmother and nine children left Germany and emigrated to America. They
settled in Fillmore township. The older boys soon bought farms and got
married, Egbert married Alida ter Steege from Lage, county of Bentheim,
Germany in Fillmore township on December 8, 1867. Like
his older brother Geert, young Egbert had an urge to study for the
ministry of the Word. He enrolled at Calvin Seminary and graduated in
1883. Rev.
Broene retired in 1907 because of a physical disability. The family then
moved to Grand Rapids. they had four daughters and one son, Albert, who
became a professor of modern languages at Calvin College in Grand
Rapids. Rev. Broene died on February 5, 1911 in Grand Rapids at the age
of 71 years. Rev.
Egbert Broene served the following Christian Reformed churches: 1.
Pella, Iowa. 1883-1886. Sources: 1.
Banner Scrapbook, Volume I, pg. 38. (Herrick Public Library, Holland,
Michigan) Rev.
Geert Broene Rev.
Geert Broene was born on September 16, 1838, the oldest son of Harm
Hindrik Broene and Kunnegien Nyboer. His parents were farmers in the
hamlet of Hocklenkamp, parish of Uelsen, county of Bentheim, Germany.
Young Geert grew up a , member of the group seceders from the state
church: a church which often met secretly
in barns for worship. The
Broenes were a large family and since Geert and some of his brothers had
expressed thoughts of coming to America, father Harm Hindrik, then 48
years old, sold his farm, took his nine children and emigrated to
America on July 31, 1865. They settled in Graafschap, Michigan, in
Fillmore Township. The following year Geert was married to Andina
Harmsen to whom he was already engaged in his homeland. They bought 40
acres of land near East Saugatuck, Michigan, and started farming. In 1873, when he was 35 years old and the father of a growing family, he sold his farm and studied for the ministry of the Word with Rev. vander Werp and Rev. De Boer in Muskegon and Grand Rapids. He graduated in 1877. Rev. and Mrs. Broene had one daughter, who married Rev. J.L. Tielen, and four sons. Their son Johannes, became a professor of education and psychology at Calvin College in Grand Rapids. He served two terms as its president. Rev. Broene died on-April 12, 1919 at the age of 81 years old. 1.
Rev. Broene served the following Christian Reformed churches: Sources: 1.
Banner Scrapbook, Vol. 3, pg. 34. (Herrick Public Library, Holland,
Michigan.) Rev. William Greve Rev. William Greve was born on Jan 16, 1836 in the city of Bentheim, county seat of the county of Bentheim in Germany. He was converted at the age of seventeen. His own pastor, the Rev. B.J. Sunday and Rev. Beuker encouraged him to seek full time Kingdom work. He presented himself to the classis of the Old Reformed Church of Bentheim, Germany, but he had the frustrating experience that another young man was chosen. He waited several years for another opportunity but since none came along, he emigrated in 1865 to Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati had been the destination of many people from the city of Bentheim since the 1830's. Undoubtedly, he had old neighbors and friends, maybe even relatives in that city. Young Greve must have felt the need for a church like he had in Germany. According to Act 27 of the general Assembly of the Christian Reformed Church in session June 20, 1867, "A young man named Greve, who desires also be advocated to the ministry is present and asks to have a committe accompany him to organize a church in Cincinnati, Ohio. Rev. Vanden Bosch and Rev. Vander Werp are appointed". The minutes of classis of October 2, 1867 tell us (Article 6) that a congregation has been formed and (Article 25) that William Greve has been placed in the care of Rev. D.l. vander Werp at Graafschaap, Michigan to be trained for the work of the Gospel at the expense of the church. Rev. Greve was married to the former Tace Hoffman of May 27, 1869 in Fillmore Township, Michigan. He died on March 16, 1906 in Englewood, Chicago, Illinos, at the age of 70. He wife was his only survivor. Rev.
Greve served the following Christian Reformed churches: 1.
Cincinnati, Ohio. 1869-1874. Sources: 1.
Obituary sketch by Dr. Henry Beets in the Banner of April 6, 190.
(Origin of Rev. Johann Gulker Rev. Gulker was born on January 8, 1855 in the hamlet of Brandlecht, county of Bentheim, Germany. His parents, George H. Gulker and wife (nee Weinberg), were seceders from the state church, so he was not baptised in the Reformed church in Brandlecht, but by J.B. Sunday of the seceder church in Bentheim. He made his confession of faith at the age of 19. Called to the ministry of the word in 1877, he obtained his education with the pastor of the Veldhausen Church, the Rev. Jan Schoemaker. He emigrated in 1882 and entered Calvin Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan, from which he graduated in 1884. He lost his first wife in the Spring of 1904 while in Oak Harber, Washington. After her death, he married Catherine Van Howe. According to the oral history of the Gulker family in Germany, he went hack to Veldhausen after graduation in 1884 and brought his wife (nee Derks) with him to America. They had o_e son George Gulker Rev. Gulker died on January 22, 1942 in Chandler Minnesota, U.S.A. at the age of 87, at the home of his only son. Rev.
Gulker served the following Christian Reformed churches: 1.
Orange City, Iowa. 1884-1890. Sources: 1.
Banner Scrapbook Vol. 7, pg, (Herrick Public Library, Holland Michigan) Rev. Jan Plesscher Rev. Jan Plesscher was born the 14th of May, 1849 in Osterwald, parish of Veldhausen, county of Bentheim, Germany. He was the youngest son of Geert Plesscher and Jenne Gruppen. Jan Pies scher grew up at a time when the Reformed Church of the parish of Veldhausen fell on liberal times; therefore, in 1869, he and his two sisters joined the local Old Reformed church. Rev. N.M. Steffens, who later emigrated to North America, was the pastor. His parents and another brother stayed with the Reformed church; the fact that three of the children joined the despised Seceders may have been difficuii for the parents,who were loyal to the state church, right or wrong. It more than likely brought much disturbance in the home circle. The same year he joined the Reformed church, 1869, Rev. Plesscher was drafted into the Prussian Army serving throught the FrancelPrussian war of 1870-71. After his discharge, he took up the study of the ministry, taking private lessons from his local pastor, L. Stroeven. After studying with pastor Jager and at the Kampen school in The Netherlands, he graduated in 1881. After briefly serving a church in Germany he emigrated with his wife and two children to Lincoln Center, Iowa in 1885. Rev. Plesscher and his wife, the former Geese (Grace) Wuebbens from Oldersum, Ostfriesland retired in Parkersburg, Iowa. Here they both died and are buried at the Oak Hill Cemetary. Rev. and Mrs. Plesscher had six children. Two of their sons served as ministers in the Christian Reformed Church, and the oldest daughter was married to Rev. Herman Potter, son of Rev. Herman Potgeter. They served many German congregations, in the Midwest in the Reformed Church. Rev. Plesscher died on the 11th of April, 1935 in Parkersburg, Iowa, U.S.A., nearly 86 years old. The funeral service was held in Parkersburg, Iowa by Rev. G. Westenberg and J. Shurmann in the German language on April 15, 1935. Rev.
Plesscher served the following churches: 1.
The Old Reformed Church of Neermoor and Oldersum in Earldom of
Ostfriesland, Sources: 1.
Records from the Reformed Church of Veldhausen, Germany. Rev. Hermann Johann Potgeter Rev.
Hermann Johann Potgeter was born the 11th of October in Veldhausen,
county of Bentheim, Germany. He was the oldest son of Steven Gerriet
Potgeter and Janna Aarnink. Baptised in the Reformed church of
Veldhausen, he joined the Old Reformed church in Veldhausen in May, 1876
at 20 years of age. At the same time, he started to study for the
ministry of the word with the local pastors, the Rev. Jan Shoemaker and
the Rev. Johnannes Jager. He was ordained in 1883. During
1888, while serving the Ostfriesland church in Germany, Rev. Potgeter
wrote a brochure entitled "Heet Doop and heet Baptisme".
On September 20, 1888, he also formulated a letter to the German Kaiser
requesting corporal rights for the congregation. A letter of denial was
received from Berlin in October of 1888. In
1889, Rev. Potgeter emigrated with his wife, Luptina Jansen, and his one
son Herman
to the U.S.A. where he accepted a call at the Christian Reformed Church
of Ridott, Illinois. Retiring in 1914, Rev. Potgeger settled in the city
of Oregon on the Rock River in Illinois. The parents and siblings of
Rev. Potgeter all emigrated to the Allendale, Michigan area. The
oldest son Herman Potgeter served Reformed churches in the Midwest for
many years. He was married to Gesina Plesscher, the oldest daughter of
Rev. Jan Plesscher, also originarily from the Veldhausen congregation in
Germany. The decendants of Rev. Potgeter changed their name to Potter
here in America. Rev. Potgeter died the 27th of September, 1931 in
Oregon, Illinois, nearly 76 years old. Rev.
H. J. Potgeter served the following churches: 1.
Old Reformed Church of Uelsen, Germany. 1883-1885. Sources: 1.
Reformed Church records of Veldhausen. Rev. Bernd Ridder Reverend
Bernd L. Ridder was born on September 14, 1930 in Hardingen, County of
Bentheim, Germany. Bernd is the third child and second son of Friedrich
Schippers and Gesina Ridder. Since his mother inherited the Ridder farm,
the husband and children all carried the family name of Ridder. It was the sincere desire of Bernd's parants, even in the turbulant times of pre-warGermany, to give all of their six children a good education. Bernd chose a vocational training. Bernd entered the institute for architecture in Hildesheim. He earned a Masters Degree in Technology and Architecture and opened his -own shop in Nordhorn Germany. However, in June of 1955, he and his wife, the former Friederike Sligt from Uelsen, emigrated from their native country to Holland, Michigan,. U. S. A. Mr. and. Mrs, George Schrovenwever in Holland, Michigan gave the needed sponsorship. Bernd began to work, for the Chris-Craft Boat Company. Subsequently, he found work as an architect and designer at the Herman Miller Company in Zeeland, Michigan. As his eight-year younger brother, Harm Hindrick, had, Bernd also had a strong desire to enter the Christian Ministry. Therefore, in September of 1959, Bernd entered Hope College, Holland Michigan, and graduated in June of 1963. In September of 1963, he and his family moved to New Brunswick, New Jersey, and Bernd entered the New Brunswick Theological Seminary. After two years of studying for the ministry, he was charged with the parish duties in Bingham, Maine, completed his theological studies in the Bangor (Maine) Theological Seminary and took graduate courses in Pastoral Counseling. On July 28, 1968, Bernd was ordained to the Christian ministry. The Ridders have five children: Jerry, Frieda, Harvey, Philip and Martin. They all lived in the State of New Jersey. Rev.
Ridder served the following congregations: 1.
Krumville, New York Source: This
information was received from the Ridder family. Rev. Jan Robbert Rev.
Jan Robbert was born the 17th of February, 1857 in Gross-Ringe, parish
of Emlichheim, county of Bentheim, Germany. He was the oldest son of
Hindrik Jan Robbert and Geesje EIsman. According to local customs in the county of Bentheim, Jan Robbert being the oldest son in the family, was in line to inherit his father's farm. He lost his mother early in life. When he was 17 years Qld, a desire awoke in him to study for the ministry of the Word. With his father's consent, he started to study with his local pastor, Rev. L. Stroeven in Emlichheim, and with Rev. Breisma in Schoonebeek, The Netherlands. In 1879, he entered the Kampen Seminary in Overyssel, The Netherlands, graduating in 1885.1n the same year on November 5, he was married to Miss Jakoba Beuker, daughter of Rev. and Mrs. H. Beuker (Nr. 3 in this series). Rev. and Mrs. Robbert were blessed with ten children, seven boys and three girls.In 1893 he emigrated to Roseland, Chicago with his family having accepted a call from the C.R.C. . During the course of the first World War (1914 - 1918), four of their sons were in the service of their country. This, and the anti-German movement that swept North America during this period brought a great depression in Rev. Robbert's life. For two years, from 1914 - 1916, he had to take a leave of absence and rest from his work. The text of his first sermon after this two year period was from Hebrews 11:34, receiving strength through weakness. This depression of his was used in many ways by the Lord. His widow, Jakoba (nee Beuker) became instrumental in the establishment of Pine Rest Christian Hospital for the mentally ill in Cutlerville, Michigan. During his life, Rev. Robbert supported and stressed Christian education. He took an early retirement in 1918 and settled in Holland, Michigan. Rev. Robbert died at age 65 on the 2nd of October, 1922 in Holland, Michigan. Rev.
Robbert served in the following Christain Reformed churches: 1.
Lier, Province of South Holland, The Netherlands. 1885-1891. Sources: 1.
Yearbook of the Christian Reformed Church of 1923, Pg. 146 - 151. Rev.
Jan Harm Schu1tz Rev.
J.H. Schultz was born on the 22th of September, 1853 in the hamlet of
Kleine Ringe, parish of Emlichheim, county of Bentheim, Germany. His
parents were Hermannes Schultz and Zwantje Bierlink. He emigrated from
Uelsen, Germany to the U.S.A. in 1892, accepting a call from the C.R.C.
in Bunde, Minnesota. Rev.
Schultz was married to Hindrika Metelerkamp and had two sons, Herm H.
and Henry, both of whom also served as ministers in the C.R.C. His
oldest son Herman H. was born in Uelsen on May 27, 1886. He served for
five years as the director of the Paterson Hebrew Mission in Paterson,
New Jersey. He died on June 16, 1937 in Paterson. His son Henry was a
professor at Grundy Center College in Iowa from 1920 - 1924, then at
Calvin Seminary in Grand Rapids from 1926 - 1940. In 1940, he became the
president of Calvin College where he served until 1951. From 1951 on, he
resumed his teaching at Calvin Seminary. Rev. Schultz died the 22nd of
May in Middlesburg, Iowa at the age of 61.Rev. J.H. Schultz served the
following churches: 1.
Old Reformed church in Uelsen, Germany. 1885-1892. Sources: 1.
Reformed Church records of the Church of Emlichheim, County of Bentheim, Rev. Frederic Schuurman Rev.
Frederic Schuurman was born on October 18, 1865 in Itterbeck, county of
Bentheim, Germany. He was the son of Jan Schuurman and Janna Arink. His
parents were members of the State church, The Reformed church in Uelsen. Young
Schuurman was drafted in the Prussian Army. After his discharge in 1894,
he began special studies for the ministry in the Old Reformed church
with professor Jager in Emden, Ostfriesland, Germany. After graduating
in 1901, he accepted a call to the Old Reformed church in Campen,
Ostfriesland, During his eleven year charge in Campen, the membership
increased from 16 to 144. In October, 1911, he received a call from the
Christian Reformed church in Emden, Minnesota. The salary was 700
dollars per year. Since he thought the opportunity for his children
would be greater in the United States, and Germany was now under threat
of war, Rev. Schuurman sailed in April, 1912 with his wife and four
children on the S.S. Bremen for New York. After being at sea for four
days, they came into the area where the "Titanic" had sunk on
April 15, 1912. It was a tem"ble sight seeing the wreckage and the
many bodies floating on the surface. In New York they were met by a
brother-in-law, Jan Huisken and in Grand Rapids, Michigan, they were
welcomed by Dr. Henry Beets, who showed them around and made visits with
them to distant relatives in the Holland, Michigan area. From there they
crossed lake Michigan by ferry to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and then by
train to Emden, Minnesota. The
Schuurmans served Dutch and German speaking churches during their
ministry in the states of Iowa and Minnesota. He was the last minister
from the Old Reformed church of Germany who accepted a call to the
sister church in North America. Rev. Schuurman was married to Fenna Huisken, also from Itterbeck, county of Bentheim, Germany. She had two brothers in North America, Jan in Grand Rapids, and Berend in Edgerton, Minnesota. Their oldest son Jan, born in Campen, Ostfriesland, also became a minister in the Christian Reformed church. A grandson, John F. Schuurman, graduated from Calvin Seminary in 1985 and in presently serving the 1st C.R.C. in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Their three daughters are married and live in Iowa and Washington state. Another son resides in Denver, Colorado. Rev. Schuurman ,died in Lynden, Washington, U.S.A., on September 16, 1947, almost 82 years old. He was buried in Orange City Iowa. Rev.
Schuurman served the following churches: 1.
Old Reformed church in Campen, Ostfriesland, Germany. 1901-1912. Sources: 1.
Banner Scrapbook, Volume 2, pg. 40.(Herrick Public Library, Holland,
Michigan.) Rev. Jan (John) Schuurman* Rev. Jan Schuurman was born on the 24th of January in Campen, Ostfriesland, Germany. He was the son of Rev. Frederic Schuurman and Fenna Huisken, both of whom were born in Itterbeck, county of Bentheim, Germany. Rev. Schuurman was nine years old when he came to this country with his family. His father had accepted a call to the Emden, Minnesota Christian Reformed church. On April 11, 1912, they boarded the "SS Bremen" from Germany to New York, arriving 11 days later on April 22, 1912. Their trip is described in the sketch of Rev. Schuurman's father, Rev. Frederic Schuurman. Young Schuurman attended the rural schools in Minnesota and Iowa. Getting accustomed to the severe weather in the Midwest was a big adjustment. During especially severe winter storms, the farmers would get the children and teachers from the schools with horses and bob sleds. They would sit on the floor of the sled covered with blankets. Mter grade school, he attended Grundy Center Christian High School, and finally Calvin College and Seminary. Rev. Schuurman was the last minister in the Christian Reformed church who preached in German, Dutch, and English. He was married to Marguerite Broersma. They had three children: Mildred Buma, a nurse residing in Grand Rapids, Frederic Schuurman, a math professor, residing in Michigan; and Bruce Schuurman, a medical doctor in New Mexico. Rev. Shuurman died the 13th of August, 1977, in Grand Rapids, Michigan at the age of 74. Rev.
Schuurman served the following Christian Reformed churches: 1.
Lincoln Center, Iowa. 1931-1940. Sources 1.
Special report by his sister Augusta Kok (nee Schuurman) of Lyndon,
Washington. *Technically,
Rev. Schuurman should be registered under Ostfriesland, he was born in
Campen. However, since he was recognised all his life as a Graftshafter,
we include him here. Rev.
Jan Hindrik Vos Rev.
Jan Hindrik Vos was born on March 18, 1826 in Osterwald, parish of
Veldhausen, county Bentheim, Germany. He was the oldest son of Gerd Vos
and Anna Clement, renters of a small farm, which belonged to the Evers
family in Osterwald. Rev. Vos was educated for the ministry of the Word in the Theological School in Kampen, The Netherlands from 1856 - 1858, He emigrated with his family in 1881 to Grand Rapids, Michigan, accepting a call from the local 1st Christian Reformed Church. From the beginning, he was active in the Christian Reformed Church in this country: he was elected president of the Synod of 1883, he edited the church order of 1897, and he was secretary of the Synodical Committee for several years, as well as for the board of the freign missions.
In addition to the publication of several sermons, several of his
articles were published in the "Bazuin", the "vrye Kerk",
and the "Wachter". He
was married in 1858 to Altje Beuker, a sister of Professor Hindrikus
Beuker of Calvin Seminary in Grand Rapids. They had four children, two
daughters and two sons. In October 1900, Rev. Vos retired from the
ministry and moved toGraafschap, Michigan. In late 1910, their
son-in-law, Rev. Van Vessum, became the pastor of the Graafschap,
Michigan church. Both of their sons lived in the east, Bernardus in
Baltimore Maryland, and Gerhardus in New Jersey. The oldest son, Dr.
Gerhardus Vos (1862 - 1949), taught for five years at the Calvin
Seminary and then for 39 years at Princeton University in New Jersey. He
became known as one of the foremost theologians of his time, publishing
several books in English, Dutch, and German. His wife, the former
Catherine Smith, was the author of the "Child's Story Bible"
which enjoyed 12 printings during 1935 - 1956 (Eerdmann's Publishing) Two
of his brothers also emigrated to America. Jan Willem and his family
came to Grand Rapids in 1882, and his brother Jan came as a widower to
Kansas, where several of his children had settle4. He died on February
17, 1913 in Graafschap, Michigan, nearly 87 years old. Rev.
Vos served the following churches: 1.
Uelsen, Germany. 1858-1860. While he was pastor of the Uelsen Oid
Reformed Sources: 1.
Reformed Church record of. the parish of Veldhausen, Germany. Rev. John WaIkotten Rev.
John (Jan) Walkotten was born the 27th of July, 1869 in the hamlet of
Georgsdorf, parish of Veldhausen, county of Bentheim, Germany. His
parents were Gerd Walkotten and Anne Vryman. He emigrated in 1888 with
his mother, his stepfather, and sister Gertien to Grand Rapids,
Michigan. An older sister Hindrikin who had married John Rubing had
emigrated in 1884 with his older brother Hindrik, who at the time of
their arrival was already studying for the ministry in Grand Rapids. His
sister Gertien married John Veenstra from
Muskegon, Michigan. As a young man, he worked for the Widdicomb
Furniture Company in Grand Rapids. In 1865, he entered Calvin College
and Seminary. He was ordained in 1903 by his brother Henry. Rev.
Walkotten was a member of the Paterson Hebrew Missions board, the
Eastern Home Missions board, and a member of the board of Trustees of
Calvin College and Seminary. He could preach in three languages: Dutch,
German, and English, which he found useful during his 25 year charge in
Paterson, especially in his work with the Jewish population. He was
married to Mattie Bolt, who died during his term at the 16th street
church in Holland, Michigan, leaving him with five small children. His
second marriage was to Jane Alkema, who bore him three more children. He
died the later part of 1955 in Paterson, New Jersey at the age of 86
years and is buried at Laurel Grove Memorial Park Cemetary. At the time
of his death, he left eight children, 20 grandchildren, and 9
great-grandchildren. Rev.
Walkotten served the following Christian Reformed churches: 1.
Vogel Center, Michigan. 1903-1905. Sources: 1.
Banner of January 20,1956 by his son-in-law, Rev. William Van Peursem. Rev. Henry Wa1kotten Rev. Hindrik (Henry) Walkotten was born on the 24th of March, 1864 in the hamlet of Georgsdorf, parish Veldhausen, county of Bentheim, Germany. His parents were Gerd Walkotten and Anna Vryman. Rev. Walkotten emigrated in 1884 and worked for two years on farms and factories in the state of Michigan. He entered Caivin College in Grand Rapids in 1886, graduating from Calvin Seminary in 1893. For two years he was a teacher of Dutch language and literature at Central College, Iowa. He was also a member and president of the Christian Reformed Missions board. In the early 1920's, he wrote the book. The Weg des Pilgrims naar het Vaderhuis in Dutch (Eerdmann's publishing). On October 13, 1893, he married Anna Vos, also a native of the county of Bentheim. They had seven children, three sons, and four daughters. Rev. Walkotten died on May 17, 1925 in Pella, Iowa, U.S.A., 61 years old. Rev.
Walkotten served the following Christian Reformed churches: 1.
Wellsburg, Iowa. 1893-1895. Sources: 1.
Wee. des Pile.rim naar het Vaderhuis by Rev. Henry Walkotten. Rev. Gerriet Westenberg Rev.
Gerriet Westenberg was born on April 13, 1867 in the city of Neuenhaus,
Seifendamm 4, county of Bentheim, Germany. His parents were Gerhard Jan
Westenberg and Janna Schievink. Rev. Westenberg came to America at the
age of ten with his widowed mother, who became the second wife of Jan
Gerhardus Kronemeyer of Fillmore Township in Michigan. They were distant
relatives. According to Mr. Harvey Kronemeyer of Holland, Michigan, a
small house was built for the them on the farm on M-40 and after Jan's
death in 1892, Janna Schierink, his 2nd wife, moved to one of her
daughters in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Two sisters and an older brother
Derk Westenberg who settled later in Minnesota, also came to America
between 1874 - 1876. The sisters married in Grand Rapids. In 1890, young
Gerriet entered Calvin College and Seminary in Grand Rapids, graduating
in 1897. In 1896, he married Della vander Zwaag. They had four children,
two boys and two girls. In
1912, just before World War I, Rev. Westenberg made a trip to Germany,
his homeland. He gave a lengthy report of his trip in the Gereformeerde
American of December, 1912, Nr.12., published by Holkeboer, 210 College
Ave., Holland, Michigan. pg. 529 - 537. He died in 1945 in Grand Rapids,
Michigan, U.S.A., 78 years old. Rev.
Westenberg served the following Christian Reformed churches: 1.
Peoria, Iowa. 1897-1901. Sources: 1.
Banner Scrapbook of 1909 and 1913. (Herrick Public Library, Holland,
Michigan) |
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Rev. Schuurmann and family in
Minnesota. |
