Volume XXVI • Number 2 • 2008 Historical Magazine of The Archives Calvin College and Calvin Theological Seminary 1855 Knollcrest Circle SE Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546 page 9 page 13 (616) 526-6313 Origins is designed to publicize 2 From the Editor 13 Early Members in the Maxwell Christian Reformed Church and advance the objectives of 4 The Congregation of The Archives. These goals Angie Ploegstra and Paula Vander Tuberculosis Sufferers: include the gathering, Maxwell Christian Reformed Hoven organization, and study of Church historical materials produced by 22 Pacifi c Coast CRC Churches Angie Ploegstra and Paula Vander the day-to-day activities of the Before World War II, Part II Christian Reformed Church, Hoven Howard B. Spaan its institutions, communities, and people.

Richard H. Harms Editor Hendrina Van Spronsen Circulation Manager Conrad J. Bult Book Reviewer Tracey L. Gebbia Designer H.J. Brinks Harry Boonstra Janet Sheeres Associate Editors James C. Schaap Robert P. Swierenga Contributing Editors page 35 page 40 HeuleGordon Inc. Printer 33 Notes in a Seventeenth- Century 42 Book Reviews Family Bible Henry Baron, Conrad Bult Anne G. Bousema 46 For the Future 39 “Dear Father, . . .” upcoming Origins articles Cover photo: Leendert Woudstra ?? translated by Gerrit W. Sheeres 47 Contributors from the editor . . .

den, Washington, Rev. Howard Spaan to make such data readily available, continues his survey of pre-World both sets of data are now available via War II Christian Reformed congrega- the internet at http://www.calvin.edu/ tions west of the Great Plains. Anne hh/family_history_ resources/ sohol- G. Bousema, who lives in Hoeve- land_church.htm and http://www.calvin. laken (just outside of Amersfort), edu/hh/family_history_ resources/ the Netherlands, teases out historical Maxwell_church.htm; all of our on-line Time to Renew Your Subscription information from various sources in resources are listed at http://www. As is our custom, this is your notice the Netherlands and compares these calvin.edu/hh/family_history_resources/ that it is time to renew your subscrip- with those written in a family Bible in_house_resourses.htm. D tion. An envelope for this is included and told in a family’s story about that with this issue. Using this column to information to determine the accu- News from the Archives notify you saves the cost of a separate racy of that story. D During the summer staff members mailing for renewal notices. Sub- organized and opened for research scriptions remain $10 (US) per year. Available On-Line approximately thirty-seven cubic feet Gifts above $10 are acknowledged as From a variety of sources, we com- of manuscript material. Among the charitable gifts to Origins and we are piled the membership records of the larger collections are the research grateful for this generosity. D South Holland, Michigan, Presbyte- fi les of Dr. George M. Marsden, rian Church, 1852–1867. This group noted scholar and prolifi c author of This Issue was the fi rst to leave the Reformed American religious history; his most Paula Vander Hoven and Angie Ploeg- Church in America after the Dutch recent work is the multi-award win- stra continue their indefatigable search immigrants had joined the denomina- ning Jonathan Edwards: A Life. We for short-lived Dutch immigrant com- tion in 1850. While conducting their als o processed the papers of Paul munities in North America. Follow- research on the Dutch in Maxwell, Zylstra and Tymen Hofman, both ing their earlier work on Perch Lake, New Mexico, Paula Vander Hoven ministers in the Christian Reformed Michigan, and Martin, South Dakota, and Angie Ploegstra assembled data Church—the Zylstra material details this issue contains their detailed on Dutch immigrants who joined the his pastorates in several regions of the research on Maxwell, New Mexico, church there as well as those who United States while the Hofman fi les which was also home to the fi rst lived in the area without joining the detail his life-long research into the Bethesda Sanitarium. A native of Lyn- church. As part of our ongoing efforts history of the Dutch in Canada and

2 Volume XXVI • Number 2 • 2008

the United States. Staff also added a papers of H. Evan Runner, noted archivist; Melanie Vander Wal is de- signifi cant run, fourteen cubic feet, of Christian philosopher and member of partmental assistant; Dr. Robert Bolt the various publications produced by the college faculty, 1950-1981; fi fteen is fi eld agent and assistant archivist. Faith Alive Resources, the publishing cubic feet of records of the CRC Our capable student assistants are ministry of the Christian Reformed Chaplaincy offi ce; nine cubic feet Cyndi Feenstra, and Dana Verhulst. Church that also provided resources from Classis Rocky Mountain; and Our volunteers include Willene De for the Reformed Church in America. four cubic feet from the offi ce of the Groot, Rev. Henry De Mots, Ed Ger- The addition contains Sunday school Calvin College Dean of the Chapel. D ritsen, Fred Greidanus, Ralph Haan, and catechetical material for students Dr. Henry Ippel, Helen Meulink, and instructors. We also processed Publications Rev. Gerrit W. Sheeres, and Janet S. a signifi cant addition to the records Origins currently has two book-length Sheeres. D of the Calvin College HPERDS manuscripts under consideration. A (Health, Physical Education, Recre- history of the CRC mission effort in ation, Dance, and Sport) Department. China, 1920-1950, is being revised by Included are records of the various the author, based on comments from inter-collegiate athletics programs. four readers. The extensively annotat- Our volunteers continue working ed and translated minutes of the CRC Richard H. Harms on the translation from Dutch into synodical meetings (then called clas- English of the minutes from Manhat- sical or general assembly meetings), tan, Montana, CRC and Holland, 1857–1880, are also being reviewed Michigan’s Central Avenue CRC. this summer. These will appear in the Indexing of The Banner vital records same series as the recently published continues. The collating and keying biographies of Douwe Vander Werp into a database the information on and H. J. Kuiper. D post-World War II Dutch immigrants in Canada was completed and is cur- Staff rently being proofread. Richard Harms is the curator of the Accessions during the summer in- Archives; Hendrina Van Spronsen is cluded the Marsden collection (which the offi ce coordinator; Wendy Blank- was processed, as noted above); the espoor is librarian and cataloging

3 The Congregation of Tuberculosis Sufferers1: Maxwell Christian Reformed Church Angie Ploegstra and Paula Vander Hoven

n 1893 a core of about ten Dutch out the other heirs to the property. In Ifamilies—most of them in their 1870 Maxwell sold the land to a group twenties and thirties, with young of English fi nanciers who organized children, and a few single people— the Maxwell Land Grant and Railway formed a Christian Reformed church Company, which went into foreclosure in Maxwell, New Mexico. The small in 1879. A group from the Nether- congregation toiled through fi fteen lands, including Samuel Van Houten, years of illness, death, land swindles, a lawyer from the province of Gron- struggles for water, and ultimate ingen and in 1894 a member of the failure far from the concentrations of Dutch cabinet, formed the Maxwell the denomination’s membership. They Land Grant Company and purchased also established a tuberculosis sani- the land, with headquarters in Am- tarium2 and founded what is reputed sterdam and offi ces in New Mexico to be the fi rst Christian school in the and Colorado, and operated mining, West. Theirs is also the story of people timber, coal, farming, and irrigation persevering in an alien land, many of projects, as well as plaster and cement them ill with tuberculosis, and leaving manufacturing. By 1960, the company a strong legacy. had sold off most of its land and left Along with South Africa and the New Mexico, but the Maxwell Land European Alps, the Maxwell area was Grant Company continued to exist in one of several areas that came to the the Netherlands under the name of attention of Dutch tubercular patients De Maxwell Petroleum Holding N. V. and their families, particularly from As part of its nineteenth-century sales the province of Groningen, during the operation, the Dutch company sold last decades of the nineteenth century. parcels to Dutch immigrants. Of these various locations, that in the There had been forays into the Maxwell Land Grant, also known as high, dry country of the American the Beaubien-Miranda Land Grant, Southwest by Dutch in 1889. Some was selected to help the patients.3 ministers and schoolteachers had spo- During the early 1840s the Mexican ken favorably about the area, but two government had granted more than people who came to investigate found 1.8 million acres in Colfax County, it to be an arid place where water was Angie Ploegstra, from Zeeland, Michi- New Mexico, and adjoining Las so scarce that it was selling for fi ve gan, and Paula Vander Hoven, from 4 Scholcraft, Michigan, have become Animas County, Colorado, to Charles cents a glass. Writing in De Grondwet regular contributors to Origins. Their Beaubien and Guadalupe Miranda for in November 1889, they urged cau- previous work has been on Perch Lake, agricultural use. Lucien Bonaparte tion, “Visit the lands yourself. Don’t Michigan and Martin, South Dakota. Maxwell, a native of Illinois, married believe land agents, dominies, or Luz Beaubien and by 1865 had bought schoolteachers.”5

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Kampen, the Netherlands, was com- pleted in Grand Rapids. His fi ancée, Margaretha Enter, a tuberculosis suf- ferer had preceded him to Maxwell in 1893 at the age of twenty-fi ve, on the advice of her physician in Groningen, and very much against the wishes of her family. The two were married in New Mexico in September 1895.

The Congregation The members of the Jan Zwier fam- ily were stalwarts of that young congregation. Zwier, fi fty-six when the church was founded, was by all The oldest of four brothers, Gerrit Pier Bakker, as a seminary student, Berkhof (1865–1894), deferred accounts the emotional and spiritual served the early Dutch immigrants his dream of teaching and began leader of the group.11 He and Wijntje in Maxwell, New Mexico. He working for the John Widdicomb was ordained into the ministry in (Winnie) Zwier and their children ar- Furniture Company to help support October 1893 and died twenty-two rived in January 1893 from the failed the family. After several years of months later. Photo courtesy of the factory work, he became ill with Dutch community in Alamosa, Colo- Archives, Calvin College, Grand tuberculosis. Photo courtesy of the rado, because of the health of their Rapids, Michigan. Archives, Calvin College, Grand daughter. Their home was a simple Rapids, Michigan. adobe structure with “no carpet and But two families and fi ve single no lace curtains.” For four years after men did come, lured by land agents spring of 1894 and was appointed to its organization on that Thanksgiv- and promises of good farming.6 There teach at the Theological School.9 But ing Day in 1893, the congregation was talk of organizing a congregation because of deteriorating health he gathered weekly in the adobe house, as early as the summer of 1891, under returned to Maxwell in August 1894, using Winnie Zwier’s sewing machine the leadership of student pastor Pier and died there on 21 November.10 case as a pulpit. Catechism classes Bakker. But the families stayed only In October 1895, Idzerd Van Dellen were conducted in that house and long enough to realize they had been was called to be the fi rst pastor of the consistory meetings were frequently swindled, and those who remained congregation, and would be its only held in their home as well. Almost all were too few to form a congregation.7 pastor. His theological education, the families had young children, so By 1893, after others had arrived, begun at the Theological School in worship was a noisy (and crowded) there again was talk of forming a church. The Interior Mission Com- mittee of the Christian Reformed Church (CRC) sent a promising young seminary student, Gerrit Berk- hof, himself a tuberculosis sufferer, to preach and conduct meetings in Au- gust 1893.8 Under his leadership the group successfully petitioned Classis Iowa to be organized as a church. Rev. Evart Bos, of Luctor, Kansas, orga- nized the congregation on Thanksgiv- ing Day 1893. The fi rst elders were Jan Joling and Jan Zwier, and the fi rst deacons were L. M. Aardema and Hendrik Ungersma. Berkhof returned The Maxwell Christian Reformed Church, built with adobe bricks. Photo courtesy of the Archives, to Grand Rapids to graduate in the Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

5 event. Children sometimes escaped their parents’ care and crawled up to where the young pastor Van Dellen was preaching. Initially the elders had thought of conducting Sunday worship services in the soon-to-be-built sanitarium.12 But when the Maxwell Land Grant Company offered to give the church forty acres for a building, they began collecting funds. Most of the Dutch residents of the community con- tributed something, even some not associated with the church. The $350 collected was combined with $125 borrowed from the denomination’s Church Help Fund. In March 1897, Deacon Pieter Zwier offered to build an adobe church for $400, but it was stipulated that the building was to be completed by November of that year. It was located south of the Zwier farm The John Zwier house in Maxwell, where church services were held and which was shared with the 13 new pastor and his wife until the parsonage was completed. John Zwier is in the foreground, feeding in Section 26. He fi nished two weeks the chickens. Photo courtesy of the Archives, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan. ahead of schedule, but $68 over bud- get however, and was willing to wait tuberculosis patients” worshiping in and the elders and deacons of the until the next year for the additional a unique, “mud brick” church build- small church took seriously their funds.14 They selected a shingled roof ing. In 1901 the consistory purchased oversight of spiritual matters. They over one made of tin, and purchased a home for use as a parsonage, briefl y visited a member who didn’t attend a coal stove and chairs.15 The con- owned by the Dragt family.16 After worship services. They tried hard to gregation worshipped in its new having shared a home with the Zwier learn why one member declined to home for the fi rst time on 24 October and Folkerts families, the Van Dellens receive the sacrament of communion. 1897. Proudly writing in De Wachter lived in it only briefl y, as he accepted They agonized over baptized mem- in November of that year, Van Del- a call to Luctor, Kansas, in January bers who did not attend worship and len pointed out that it was a unique 1902.17 repeatedly sent letters of concern. congregation of “almost exclusively The pastor (when they had one) They counseled a woman who ab- sented herself from worship because she wanted to “keep the peace in her family.” They pondered whether to baptize a young man who was “men- tally challenged as a result of falling off a horse,” and decided to concur with the advice of Classis to do so, since before his accident he “had giv- en clear indications of having made the right choice.” When fi nancial pledges to the church weren’t hon- ored, they contacted the delinquent members. They took up offerings for the Theological School in Grand Rap- Parsonage of the Maxwell CRC. Photo courtesy of the Archives, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, ids, and accounted for funds on hand. Michigan. The elders attended Classis meetings

6 Volume XXVI • Number 2 • 2008

when possible, due to the long and pathies.” In January 1899 the Raton parishioners died far from home and expensive travel involved. And when Gazette reported that John Nykamp of from next of kin. He was surrounded they had no pastor they read sermons Roseland, Illinois, arrived to visit his by death, dissension, and tragedy. His during worship and conducted cat- son, who was seriously ill at the sani- wife was frail and at times the doc- echism classes for as many as eighteen tarium. The same newspaper reported tors feared her death was imminent. students. the son’s death two months later. The Raton Gazette noted in April 1899 The elders and deacons of that Offi cial church membership, as re- that “Mrs. Van Dellen was seriously outpost church also took on tasks ported in the jaarboekjes (yearbooks), ill in the sanitarium and not expected not common for most of their fellow fl uctuated between a low of eight to live. Her husband was absent, in offi ce holders in established churches. families in 1895 to a high of forty in Kansas for a stay of some weeks, but They supervised the education in 1903. In 1898, a good year, there were was telegraphed and returned to her the Christian school when it was eighty-four members, of whom thirty- bedside to see her somewhat recov- begun and worked hard to establish fi ve were adults. When the church ered.” In the end it was too much for the Bethesda Sanitarium. This small was disbanding in 1908 there were him and, as noted earlier, in 1902 he group of men also became a clearing fi fty-four members—eighteen adults accepted a call to Luctor, Kansas. house of sorts for young single Dutch in ten households. Most of the single His departure was a blow to the people who arrived sick and seeking members were young men. The 1900 congregation. By 13 May 1903 the housing. They placed the new arrivals census lists 225 people in Precinct council decided that “no effort will in members’ homes with the proviso #18 of Colfax County, New Mexico, be made to call a minister because of that they work as they were able, and including children and patients at the the dark future we face.” The small pay a modest amount for room and sanitarium, about half of whom had group of elders and deacons kept at board (generally $3 per week). The recognizable Dutch surnames. Out it valiantly for six more years. They elders and deacons were called upon of these, sixty-nine were a part of the rotated responsibilities, watched to arbitrate fi nancial disputes when church that year. good leaders leave, welcomed a few boarders failed to pay their rent, and In the midst of the very hard work newcomers and, fi nally, decided to tried to resolve other differences be- and suffering, there were also good disband. Water rights for farming tween hosts and boarders. When what times. A caravan of buggies and on the high desert had always been little money patients had brought horses would set out for congrega- an issue, and poor harvests plagued with them was used up, the elders and tional picnics in the foothills. “The them in the end. The last consistory deacons sought funds from generous stronger ones climbed the hills, while meeting was held on 4 December individuals and managed these ac- the weaker ones remained below. And 1908. Harm Boxum, John Van Wijk, counts. In one case, John Schoolland, we sang our Dutch psalms, which and John Brandsma were left to ar- already in the Netherlands for a visit, echoed through the valley below.”18 range for the sale of properties, send was asked to call upon the family of Often families invited the single men membership papers of the remaining a penniless patient and seek fi nancial for Sunday dinner, and that was the few to the Denver congregation, and assistance. He brought back the grand occasion for good times together and account for the distribution of fi nal sum of $6, from which some of his sometimes hilarity.19 funds. Idzerd Van Dellen was there as travel expenses were deducted. Young Pastor Van Dellen (twenty- classical counselor to lend support in Many Dutch immigrants, whose four when he arrived) was often the fi nal tasks. He wrote movingly of names were not recorded in the overwhelmed.20 He was responsible both his sadness and his gratitude to consistory minutes, came to Maxwell for the spiritual lives and pastoral care God. He commended the elders who, with advanced stages of tuberculosis. of a group of mostly young people, since his departure, “have served the They may also have come under the some very sick, all far from fam- congregation to the very end with care of the consistory. The nearby ily members and struggling with a great devotion and zeal.” Raton Gazette reported in May 1898 strange culture, unfamiliar methods that Jennie Smith of Grand Rapids of farming, and trouble over water The Christian School had died, “The parents moved last De- rights. With no doctor or registered During those few years the Dutch cember hoping that the climate would nurse in the sanitarium, he supervised of Maxwell also began a Christian improve her health. They are to the workers there and generated its day school, thanks to Jan Zwier who return home to bury the dead. They operating funds. He was often called knew a good opportunity when he leave many friends and have our sym- upon to perform legal duties when saw one. He and his wife Winnie were

7 tory took over supervision session only in the summer and that of the education. The Raton Effi e Zwier29 was the teacher. She Gazette of 23 February 1899 went on to teach at Christian schools noted, “The Holland settlers in Chicago, Grand Rapids, and Pater- have a successful school at son, New Jersey.30 present, which is in session No list of students is available, but in their church building.” in addition to the three Zwier chil- For three years Hoogeboom dren (most likely Simon, Effi e, and taught her students there. Jennie), Mattie and Jim Schoolland But the room was located on reported having been students there, 31 the north side of the church and it is likely that their sister Jean- and lighting was poor and nette also attended, as did Martha the space again became a and John Brands. Martha recalled that At one time the classroom of the Maxwell Christian School problem. In 1902 a school the classes met in the adobe church was an open-air top buggy, similar to the one pictured. Mattie was built for fi fteen stu- and outdoors when the weather was Hoogeboom taught the Jan and Winnie Zwier children. Im- dents; its peak enrollment.24 nice, and that they were conducted in age courtesy of the Archives, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, 32 Michigan. It was a wooden building Dutch. The “Yearbook of the Free and was most likely built on Christian Schools in America, 1923- studious, well-educated people with Benne Folkerts’ farm, in section 25, 1924” makes the point that it was the school-aged children. When Mat- about half a mile from the church.25 small and by that time long-closed tie Hoogeboom, a young Christian Hoogeboom’s health did not im- Maxwell School that had earned the school teacher from Grand Rapids, prove in the New Mexico desert. She honor of being the fi rst school for Michigan, arrived in Maxwell in April returned to Grand Rapids in February Christian instruction west of the Mis- 1897, seeking relief from tuberculosis, 1903, having taught in the outpost sissippi River. 33 But Peter De Klerk they negotiated an arrangement with school for fi ve years.26 She died in notes that a Christian school had been her whereby she would receive room February 1905, almost twenty seven formed in Rilland, Colorado, on 13 and board in exchange for teaching years of age. February 1893 with thirty-fi ve stu- three of their children “according to After Mattie Hoogeboom left, the dents and Feike Zijlstra as teacher. 34 the Word of God.”21 The Zwiers were school seems to have struggled. In That ill-fated community dissolved in used to having lodgers, since the Van fact, the entire little enclave seems November of that same year. Dellens, after their marriage, had to have struggled. The Brands family However this may be, Jan Zwier shared the Zwier home, but had since had left for Kansas in 1902, followed and Mattie Hoogeboom and those moved out to make room for Peter, by the Schoollands and the Folk- few Dutch families are heroes in the born in 1896. By the time Hooge- erts for Alamosa, Colorado, and the history of Christian education. Their boom moved in there were seven Oldenburgers and the Ungersmas for persistence in the face of illness, Zwiers occupying that small, simple Montana. Cornelius Lodewijk taught homesickness, death, inhospitable adobe house. Other parents requested thirteen students for a year following conditions, and very slim resources Christian education for their children Hoogeboom’s departure. Lodewijk was an inspiration to those who fol- and, likely in the summer or fall of stayed in Maxwell until at least Janu- lowed. 1897, the school opened with four ary 1906,27 so it seems likely that he children. 22 continued to teach. The Van Wijk The Bethesda Consumptive Relief At fi rst Hoogeboom taught in the family had chosen to settle in Max- Sanitarium Zwier home, sometimes in a top well in part because of the Christian The sanitarium on “a beautiful piece buggy,23 and sometimes in the open school there,28 and they remained. So of ridge land”35 gave hope to many air. But, as the class size grew these did the Brandsma and Boxum/Smit people stricken with tuberculosis, accommodations became unworkable. families, and the orphaned children then also called the great white plague. In January 1899, when the enrollment of Simon and Reina Zwier lived with A Dr. Kooij, a lung specialist from the reached twelve, the consistory granted their grandparents in Maxwell until city of Groningen in the Netherlands, the school use of the consistory room the congregation dissolved. The last promoted the area around Maxwell, and a table and a few chairs. And two jaarboekje entries in 1908 and New Mexico, as a place to recover among all its other duties, the consis- 1909 indicate that the school was in from tuberculosis.36 The air was drier

8 Volume XXVI • Number 2 • 2008

Born in Germany, Henricus Beuker served churches The north façade of the Bethesda Sanitarium in Maxwell, shortly after it was completed. Patients in both Germany and the spent many hours on the large porch on the south side where they were sheltered from the wind. Netherlands until accepting Photo courtesy of the Archives, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan. a call to the Allen Avenue CRC in Muskegon, Michi- gan, in 1893. He and his wife were strong support- ers of Christian hospitals such as Bethesda and Pine Rest. Photo courtesy of the Archives, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

primitive, and it was advisable to keep the patients out of homes with small children.41 The consistory minutes of 3 February 1896 have the fi rst men- tion of a sanitarium. A society was formed under the direction of Profes- sor Beuker, who had been active in an organization of Christian health care institutions in the Netherlands.42 He had seen fi rst-hand the benefi ts such 43 Maxwell colonist on the north porch of the sanitarium. Only Rev. and Mrs. Van Dellen, third and institutions could bring. fourth from the right in the front row, are identifi ed. Photo courtesy of the Archives, Calvin College, With growing concern about the Grand Rapids, Michigan. health conditions in Maxwell the consistory at its meeting of 1 Febru- on the plateau, 6,000 feet above sea of several tuberculosis sufferers and ary 1897 asked the newly formed level, on the Rocky Mountains and that of his father and Rev. E. Bos as Bethesda Society to send someone on was preferable to Davos, Switzerland, references to his claims.38 Professor a speaking tour to raise funds for a or Transvaal, South Africa, other areas Henricus Beuker, of the Theologi- sanitarium. The society responded by for Dutch tubercular patients to seek cal School, added a plea for a society asking the consistory to let Van Del- recovery during the late nineteenth to be formed and a sanitarium to be len do the fundraising over a period century.37 Rev. Idzerd Van Dellen also built.39 of three months.44 The consistory encouraged tuberculosis sufferers to Patients came from the Nether- granted the request and Van Dellen come to Maxwell in the 18 Decem- lands, Michigan, Illinois, and New went east, making presentations in ber 1895 issue of the De Wachter. He Jersey.40 Initially the patients stayed Christian Reformed and Reformed touted the clean, pure, thin air and in the homes of the congregation, but churches and taking collections for the Christian Reformed church with few families could provide the neces- the building of Bethesda in Max- a pastor there. He listed the names sary care; their homes were small and well.45 The expenses were $100, but

9 the congregation offset other travel relax in the sun while sheltered from was little chance for a cure. Many expenses by having Van Dellen attend the wind. There were rooms for the returned home to die or are buried in a classical meeting in Iowa on his way patients and personnel—a sitting the Dutch section of Maxwell cem- home. The campaign was success- room, a dining room, and a kitchen. etery, most in unmarked graves.53 ful and for several weeks De Wachter It had its own farm which produced Many of the patients were young and listed the generous support of several milk and eggs.49 George and Anna far from home and needed someone individuals and organizations. Van Dokter Branderhorst were the direc- to lean on. Often people spent all Dellen also commented in his autobi- tors. They were married in Michigan their money to get to Maxwell and ography, “that the people contributed on 30 November 1898 and immedi- needed fi nancial support from the liberally for Bethesda.” The “Society ately returned to Maxwell to take on church after they arrived. Van Dellen Bethesda” was incorporated with their duties. According to John Van wrote, “Too much was expected of me capital stock of $1,000 on 14 October Wyke in a letter written to his wife, and of the small group of brethren in 1897. In November 1898 the Society they probably only held that position Maxwell, who were functioning as the also borrowed an additional $700 for a year.50 executive committee to assist me.”54 from a man in Iowa.46 The north- The 1900 Colfax County Census Bethesda Sanitarium in Maxwell set west quarter of the northeast quarter Records list Van Dellen as the su- the example for the new Bethesda of section 33 was purchased from perintendent, Mrs. Van Dellen and which opened in in 1910. Bethesda Henry and Jitske Bakker for $620, Henrietta Homkes as housekeepers, in Denver was founded on the same about three miles west of Maxwell on and eleven patients.51 Sometime in the ideals and principles as Bethesda County Road 26.47 The Raton Gazette, early 1900s, Neeltje Zwiers took over Maxwell and it inherited the assets of on 9 June 1898, notes that the Society the management of the sanitarium, $500 from Bethesda Maxwell. had let a contract for 20,000 adobe possibly after the departure of Rev. Today the cement steps and part of bricks. Van Dellen in 1902. 52 The county the foundation of the south porch re- The north-facing Bethesda Sani- clerk’s land records indicate that on main and the present owners use the tarium opened on 20 December 1898 21 December 1904 the sanitarium was foundation as a patio. Apparently the with four patients who paid three sold to Peter and Neeltje Zwiers for building burned a few years after the to six dollars a week, but everyone $300. It’s not clear how long Bethesda closing.55 Those early Dutch settlers received equal treatment. Dr. Adrian kept functioning but it had closed in Maxwell, so many of them ill them- Holterman, a Dutch physician, pro- when the church was dissolved and selves, welcomed and housed and vided the medical care.48 There was a the last remaining families left Max- cared for the sick and penniless and back porch made of cement (on the well by the end of 1908. so provided a vibrant model for the south side of the building, 76 feet Many patients came when their dis- church’s ministry. This small group in by 8 feet), where the patients could ease was too far advanced and there Maxwell brought spiritual and physi- cal benefi ts to a number of people, which may be the greatest legacy of those struggling few. Meindert Bosch, long-time Chief Executive Offi cer of Bethesda in Denver, makes the point that diaconal ministry among the poor and ill was revitalized in Max- well and defi ned the role of deacons today.56 o

The efforts to establish a tuberculosis sanitarium moved from Maxwell to Denver, Colorado, in 1910. The facility, pictured here in the 1920s, served until the mid-1980s. Photo courtesy of the Archives, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

10 Volume XXVI • Number 2 • 2008

Endnotes 1. Title of an article by Rev. Idzerd of this say that because of the heat [in Westerman Brouwer. Van Dellen which appeared in De Wa- summer] one could not endure being 31. “Maxwell, New Mexico, chter on 3 November 1897; translated inside, and also because it tends to Reminiscences,” and “The Schoolland by Gerrit W. Sheeres. make too much of a racket when it rains Story, 1972” unpublished family history 2. A long-term medical facility, such and is windy, which can be so bad that supplied by John Weston Schoolland. as Bethesda, can be spelled sanitarium, people might not be able to hear the 32. “The Childhood History of sanatorium, or sanitorium. The facility minister when he preaches.” Besides Martha Brands Cook,” 30 April 1976, in Maxwell used the fi rst spelling, while which, a shingle roof was cheaper. supplied by JoAnne Brands Baron. the one in Denver used the second, but 16. Consistory minutes, 15 Janu- 33. Aue, C., is the presumed author the words were used interchangeably. ary 1901; translated by Janet Sjaarda of this chapter “Schools of the West,” For consistency, the fi rst spelling will be Sheeres. 133-147. Aue makes the same point in used in these articles. 17. Van Dellen, Idzerd, In God’s Cru- Historische schets. 3. Originally the town was known cible, (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 34. De Klerk, Peter, “The Eccle- as Maxwell City, but the name has since 1950), 65. siastical Struggles of the Rilland and been shortened to Maxwell. 18. Ibid., 64. Crook Christian Reformed Churches in 4. Henry S. Lucas, Netherlanders 19. The Schoolland Family Tree: Colorado in 1893,” Perspectives on the in America (Grand Rapids: William B. Family of J. B. and Trintjie Schoolland, Christian Reformed Church: Studies in Eerdmans, 1955), 429. 1995 edition, Archives, Calvin College, Its History, Theology and Ecumenicity – 5. Ibid., 430. Grand Rapids, Michigan. Presented in Honor of John Henry Krom- 6. Hendrik Ruuls, Jan Postma, Wil- 20. Van Dellen, In God’s Crucible, 63. minga at His Retirement as President of lem Renselaar, Willem Feller, Jacob 21. Ibid., 64. Calvin Theological Seminary, eds. Peter Pijper, the Klaas Fongers family and the 22. Aue, C., writing in Yearbook of De Klerk and Richard R. De Ridder Jan Joling family. the Free Christian Schools in America, (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 7. A persistent problem in the large National Union of Christian Schools 1983), 83. Maxwell Land Grant was squatters, (1923-1924), 133; states that the school 35. “Maxwell News,” Raton Gazette, who assumed the land belonged to the opened in 1898. It is more likely to Raton, New Mexico, 3. federal government. A number of these think that it opened soon after Mattie 36. Bosch, Meindert, Bridges Across early settlers, including some of the Hoogeboom arrived in 1897 accord- the Years: Ninety Years of History, The Dutch, “bought land” from these illegal ing to the letter from her to “Esteemed Bethesda Hospital Association, Denver, squatters, only to be forced to leave by Friend,” written from Maxwell, dated 29 Colorado (Denver: Bethesda PsycHealth the true owner, the land company. April 1897, held by Ken Van Dellen. System, Inc., 1988), 34. 8. Consistory minutes introduction, 23. “Maxwell, New Mexico, Reminis- 37. Van Dellen, In God’s Crucible, 44. p. 7; translated by Gerrit W. Sheeres, cences” an undated document (possibly 38. Rev. Lubbert Van Dellen or- Maxwell CRC Collection, Archives, Cal- by Mattie Schoolland) in the Cornelius dained his son Idzerd in Maxwell. Idz- vin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Witt fi le, Archives, Calvin College. erd Van Dellen, In God’s Crucible (Grand Hereafter the minutes will be cited as 24. Aue, C., “Historische schets Rapids: Baker Book House, 1950), 61; “Consistory minutes” with the date. aangaande het Chr. Lager Onderwijs in in October 1893, Rev. Bos was appoint- 9. Now Calvin Theological Seminary het Westen: Bijblad van Onze Toekomst, ed by Classis Iowa to help the people in and Calvin College. 13 June 1923; translated by Gerrit W. Maxwell organize the church. 10. Harms, Richard H., “A Dream Sheeres. 39. Van Dellen, Idzerd, “History of Not Realized—Gerrit Berkhof never had 25. As indicated in a handwritten Bethesda Sanatorium,” Bethesda Bul- the opportunity to teach,” Calvin College note on an untitled and unsigned docu- letin, February 1943. Spark (Winter 2002), 12. He left behind ment in the Cornelius Witt fi les in the 40. Ibid. a fi ancée, Martha Dijkhuis, his parents, Archives, Calvin College. 41. Ibid. and brothers, including Louis Berkhof, 26. Aue concludes that she returned 42. Prof. H. Beuker, President; Prof. who taught for many years at Calvin to Grand Rapids in 1902. A handwritten G. E. Boer, Vice President; Rev. P. Ek- Theological Seminary, and Jan, also of family note supplied by Ken Van Dellen ster, Secretaris; Rev. I. Van Dellen, Adj, Maxwell. indicates that it was February 1903. Secretaris; Mr. W. H. van Leeuwen, Pen- 11. Information provided by Jolene 27. His name appears in the consis- ningm; Mr. W. Brink, Adj. Penningm; Klynsma Vande Kamp, April 2006, and tory minutes of 15 January 1906. Trans- Rev. E. R. Haan; Rev. E. Breen; Mr. J. H. Wilma Westerman Brouwer, July 2007. lated by Janet Sjaarda Sheeres. Boswinkel. The 1901 Jaarboekje also 12. Consistory minutes, 3 March 28. Van Wyke, Millie, A Dutch Ro- lists John Schoolland and John Zwier. 1897; translated by Gerrit W. Sheeres. mance . . . An American Dream (Denver, 43. Van Dellen, “History of Bethesda 13. Consistory minutes, 4 Novem- 1995), 169. Sanatorium.” ber 1895; translated by Janet Sjaarda 29. Daughter of John and Winnie 44. Bosch, Bridges Across the Years, Sheeres. and in all likelihood one of the fi rst 35. 14.Consistory minutes, March 1897; students. 45. Psychopathic Hospitals at translated by Gerrit W. Sheeres. 30. And at the University of Michi- Cutlerville, Michigan; Sanatorium at 15. Shingles were selected because gan in Ann Arbor, according to Wilma Goffl e Hill, New Jersey; and the second “many people who have knowledge

11 Bethesda in Denver were all joint efforts between the Christian Reformed and Reformed denominations, Van Dellen, In God’s Crucible, 61. 46. Van Wyke, A Dutch Romance, 180. 47. Colfax County Land Records, Raton, New Mexico, Courthouse, Book P, 269. 48. Dr. Holterman came from Kansas with Dr. Speckman, also from the Netherlands, and several of the Dutch families who lived in Maxwell. “The Childhood History of Martha Brands Cook,” an unpublished history dated 30 April 1976. Supplied by JoAnne Brands Baron, 3 November 2007. 49. Bosch, Bridges Across the Years, 36. 50. Van Wyke, A Dutch Romance, 190. 51. Jacob and Gertie Dragt, Clar- ence Vander Wies, Roel De Boer, Everett Vander Woude, Eelke Wierenga, John Klynsma, Arthur De Haan, Gerrit Faber, Nicholas Stavinga, Heino Pothof. 52. Conversations with Alida Postma Dekker, Betty Schaap, and Alvin Smit, grandchildren and great grandchildren of Neeltje. 53. Several years ago Maxwell Cem- etery marked formerly unmarked graves with white metal crosses. Most of these white crosses are in the Dutch section of the cemetery. 54. Van Dellen, In God’s Crucible, 62. 55. Bosch, Bridges Across the Years, 41. 56. Ibid., 37.

12 Volume XXVI • Number 2 • 2008

Early Members in the Maxwell Christian Reformed Church Angie Ploegstra and Paula Vander Hoven

n the 4 February 1890 issue of De early settler lured in 1890 was twenty- IGrondwet Hendrik Ruuls1 wrote fi ve-year-old Jan Postma. “There that the prospects for a settlement in were many land speculators moving Maxwell, New Mexico, were excel- through cities, and Grand Rapids was lent, the soil seemed fertile, and there no exception. Many Dutch people was suffi cient water for irrigation. were targeted with promises of a great His only regret was that there was ‘paradise’ to be settled.”4 In an early “no church and no Dutch neighbors letter sent home he reported that I can visit occasionally.” As it turned though it was a hard life, he had made out, even a brand new church and an $800 on his fi rst harvest. At Postma’s infl ux of Dutch neighbors were not urging his cousin, Haye Oldenburger, enough to keep Ruuls in Maxwell, for arrived in Maxwell on 17 March 1893, by late 1893 he had returned to the accompanied by his fi ancée, Reintje Netherlands. The experiences of sub- Postma.5 Less than a month later Jan sequent Dutch immigrants to Maxwell died of mountain fever. The Dutch mirrored those of Ruuls. Thirty-fi ve- community mourned Postma’s death. year-old Willem Feller had arrived Jan Van Houten,6 Onea Nauta, and before Ruuls, around 1889. He farmed Willem Feller appraised and sold in partnership with another bachelor, his belongings for $802.7 His fi nal Wiebo Smit. Feller left in July 1903 expenses were subtracted from that to settle in Leavings (later Granum), amount, including a coffi n for $8 and Alberta, Canada. 2 a grave for $5.8 As happened elsewhere, attempting A landowner in Maxwell had to lure families to the Maxwell area, promised Klaas and Kate Wormnest a much was prom- ised. About 1890, the Jan and Roelfje Joling family came on the land agent promises of good farming land. “But it wasn’t. It was just desert,” so the family left in the fall of 1894 for Iowa, leaving behind their eighteen-year-old daughter Helen who Onea Nauta and wife Helen Joling. The Joling family came to Maxwell with promises of good farming. The promises were empty and the had married Onea family soon left, but Helen had met and married Onea, and remained. Nauta.3 Another Photo courtesy of Charles Ray and Connie Nauta.

13 job and a home if they made the trek Winnie disposed of their from Grand Rapids. But when they ar- property and moved to rived in about 1890 there was neither Denver. a job nor a home, and they stayed Harm “Henry” Wester- only briefl y. 9 man came in the sum- Willem Renselaar, Jacob Pijper mer of 1892 at the age (Piper), and the Klaus Fongers of twenty-two, due to ill family all arrived some time in the health. The family story is early 1890s. The Fongers stayed only that Van Dellen told West- briefl y, Renselaar left in the summer erman, “There is an at- of 1893 for Iowa,10 and Pijper married tractive widow in Luctor, Elizabeth Nauta and later moved with Kansas, with a quarter sec- that family to Johnson Mesa. tion of land and a son.”11 She was Hattie Schemper Charter Members Sprik, and her son was Al- Of the early settlers, the Ruuls, Pijper, bert. Westerman married Feller, and Joling families joined with her, and she and her son others to comprise the thirteen fami- moved to Maxwell. lies who were charter members of the Lykele M. Aardema Idzerd Van Dellen had emigrated because his fi ancée, Marga- Maxwell Christian Reformed Church. came from Ureterp, the retha Enter, left for New Mexico after contracting tuberculosis. Almost every family had come to Netherlands, in 1892 for They married in 1894 and she lived to be eighty years old. New Mexico because the health of his health. At forty-fi ve Photo courtesy of the Archives, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, a family member was compromised he was one of the oldest Michigan. by tuberculosis. Others—men and of the settlers and served as both an kerchief remained in the tree until it women—were unmarried tubercular elder and a deacon. He left Maxwell rotted away, many years later.14 Once patients in their teens and twenties, late in 1898 for Alamosa, Colorado, settled and married, Haye worked, in some accompanied by family mem- and died in the spring of 1903 in succession, for Dirk Boersma, Hen- bers or friends. They came, most of Hospers, Iowa, having had a relapse drik Ruuls, and Willem Feller. them, preparing to stay. They ac- of “the old ailment.”12 By 1894 the Oldenburgers were quired land and started farming in an After Jan Postma’s death, Haye living on the 140-acre farm rented inhospitable place; then studied crop Oldenburger and Reintje Postma from Dominie Ale Buursma and were rotation and the mysteries of irriga- debated whether to remain in Max- doing quite well with nine horses, tion ditches; they farmed coopera- well, especially since there had been ten chickens, twenty-seven pigs, and tively. little rain in the spring of 1893. They a hired hand.15 The Oldenburgers re- Idzerd Van Dellen, the pastor prayed “that the Lord will be our mained in Maxwell for ten years, dur- of the congregation, and his wife spiritual guide,” and stayed.13 Haye ing which time they acquired their Margaretha Enter came because of was twenty-six when they arrived own land and lived in a home they her health. While engaged and in the in March 1893, and Reintje had just built themselves, with two rooms and Netherlands, she moved to Maxwell turned eighteen. The departure and a latched cellar. Haye was very active and he followed. trip across the ocean had been stress- in church leadership. They moved to Jan “John” and Wijntje “Winnie” ful. Reintje’s family was much op- Montana in 1904. (De Jong) Zwier and their children posed to her marriage on the grounds Bart and Jetske “Jessie” (Anema) had arrived in January 1893 from the that Haye’s family was of a lower Nauta arrived in Maxwell in 1890 failed Dutch community in Alamosa, social and economic class. Haye’s with seven of their eleven chil- Colorado. They were leaders in the father was vehemently opposed to his dren.16 They also had been lured by congregation and John Zwier died on son’s plans to immigrate and refused the Maxwell Land Grant Company 2 May 1908, as the church was in the to say goodbye to him. The family advertising “the most beautiful and process of disbanding. He was almost story is that as he was leaving, Haye most fertile soil in Colorado and New seventy-one and had had piloted the tied a handkerchief around a tree in Mexico,” and the promise of a free young church through numerous the yard, as a symbol that he would journey by train to all who purchased hardships. In December of that year return. He never did, and the hand- 160 acres.17 But it was “hardscrabble”

14 Volume XXVI • Number 2 • 2008

and, after ten years of raising wheat, alone, he placed an advertisement the livestock at the other,” and left corn, and pinto beans there, the in a weekly religious newspaper in for Alamosa, Colorado.25 Nauta family left their adobe home Groningen which read, “Wanted: a and moved forty miles east to become dependable person or married couple, Those Who Joined Later ranchers on nearby Johnson Mesa. with Christian principles, to accom- Jan Berkhof (brother of Gerrit) was Their married children—Onea and pany a young man to Maxwell, New ill like many others. He purchased Helen (Joling) Nauta and Lizzie and Mexico.”22 That ad was answered by land and he stayed after Gerrit’s death, Jacob Piper (Pijper)—relocated with Klaas Schoolland, and the two arrived but his health must have declined. them. The Nautas moved into a log in the summer of 1892. Boersma Also, like many others, he let his land house with a lean-to addition and lived only a short time.23 Schoolland revert to the government for taxes and raised livestock and chickens; Helen stayed long enough to welcome oth- returned to Grand Rapids where he sold the eggs and butter in Raton, ers of his family to Maxwell and, after died in 1907.26 north of Maxwell.18 The Nautas may surviving a case of mountain fever, Pieter27 and Neeltje (Zwier) Zwier, well have been the only Dutch family he left in the spring of 1893. In 1894 and daughter Trijntje, had experi- associated with the Maxwell church he became part of the faculty of the enced not one, but two failed com- that stayed in New Mexico. Because Theological School in Grand Rapids, munities and swindles in Crook and their traditional farming methods in- teaching languages in the position to Alamosa, Colorado.28 In March 1897, volved a continual struggle due to the which Gerrit Berkhof had been ap- at age fi fty-seven, Zwier built the scarcity of water, they became ranch- pointed before he died in Maxwell. Maxwell church. He died in Maxwell ers and cattlemen, and Onea and his Bareld Jan and Martje (Hummel) on 19 May 1908, a few days after his sons became cowboys.19 Schoolland arrived from the Neth- brother, and just as the church was Arriving in April 1893, Hendrik erlands early in March 1893.24 With disbanding. “Henry” and Tjakka (Vrugt) Un- them came their two sons, Albertus Back in the Netherlands, Trijntje gersma were apparently one of the and Jan (John) Bareld with his wife, Schoolland’s nineteen-year-old sister, few couples who did not come to Trijntje (Dijkstra), and their baby Woptje (Winnebeth) Dijkstra, was Maxwell seeking better health.20 daughter; Trijntje had tuberculo- engaged to marry twenty-one-year- Initially, farming conditions were sis. Albertus soon returned to the old Benne Folkerts, who had come reasonably good and, somehow, Netherlands, and Bareld Jan died of to Maxwell in 1894, suffering from the family story is that Hindrik had mountain fever three weeks after his tuberculosis. Once he had left, Woptje $4,000 in gold bullion in the house, arrival. Martje died three hidden under the rafters, just above years later, never having the studs in the wall. They also had become accustomed to seven children under those rafters. the new country. John B. In that close-knit community, where Schoolland became a dea- everyone, even children, helped as con in 1898 and beginning they were able, young Hattie operated in 1899 served as elder the treadle on the Van Dellen sewing and clerk for the next four machine.21 Because of Margaretha years. He was also active Van Dellen’s frail health, the sewing in the church’s Society for sessions never lasted more than a few Christian Education and minutes. Hendrik Ungersma, thirty- frequently served as the seven when the church was founded, congregation’s only del- was immediately elected deacon, and egate to classical meetings, later served also as an elder. The fam- usually held in Iowa—a ily left, probably early in 1904, and long, tiresome, and expen- settled with the Oldenburger family sive train ride from Max- near Manhattan, Montana. well. In December 1903 Dirk Boersma came from the Neth- “they loaded everything erlands on the advice of his doctor. they owned into a boxcar, Hendrik and Tjakka (Vrugt) Ungersma came to Maxwell to farm and did reasonably well. They raised seven children in a Not wanting to undertake such an the machinery and home house said to contain Hendrik’s hidden gold. Photo courtesy of extended journey in frail health and furnishing at one end and Jim Terpstra.

15 as he did in other congrega- tions. He also directed the Song Society.30 After about ten years in Maxwell, “the water supply for irrigation was insuffi cient and the set- tlers were more often disap- pointed than cheered by the results of their labors,” and the family moved to Alamosa, Colorado31 The story of Roelof (Stam) Beltman is typical and tragic. He and his wife, Aaltje Klazi- Mattie Hoogeboom arrived in na Boerhave, had been living Maxwell in 1897 hoping to re- in Platte, South Dakota, with cover from tuberculosis. She taught school for fi ve years, but her health their baby daughter. He be- did not improve and she returned came gravely ill with tuber- to Grand Rapids in 1903, where culosis and was encouraged she died. Photo courtesy of Ken to go to Maxwell. The young Van Dellen. family spent all they had to get there, but shortly after ar- but the Maxwell climate was not the riving there he died, leaving cure Mattie had hoped for and she his young widow and daugh- returned to Grand Rapids in February ter destitute. They relied on 1903 where she died. the kindnesses of the Max- Syne and Jane (Engelsman) Brands well church until the church and their young family came by train After both of their parents died, siblings Peter and Anna in Platte could send money to Maxwell from Luctor, Kansas, due Zwier went to live with their grandparents, Pieter and for their return trip.32 to his health about 1897. They rented Neeltje Zwier, who were caretakers of the sanitarium. After Mark Bouma and his sister a frame house near the church. Syne Pieter died, the grandmother and grandchildren moved to Lucy came to Maxwell in the learned to keep an eye on the weather Yellowstone City, Montana. Photo courtesy of Alida Postma 33 Dekker and Jerry Dekker. early 1900s. They came be- and when it looked like rain he and cause he was in poor health his children would open up the ir- had second thoughts about the long and was presumed to have tubercu- rigation ditches so the crops could and hazardous trip across the ocean to losis, when actually he was malnour- benefi t. But it was a losing endeavor marry a sick man. But her mother en- ished. There were several children in because water was scarce and there couraged her to be true to her prom- the family—all sickly because their was never enough rain for success- ise, all the while imagining also that father’s low income didn’t allow for ful irrigation. In addition to farming, her sickly daughter Trijntje would nutritious meals. Once Mark arrived with horse and wagon Syne delivered greatly benefi t from having a sister in Maxwell and started eating prop- mail and produce from the Maxwell nearby. Obediently, Woptje arrived in erly his health improved dramatically railroad station into the mountains. Maxwell and she and Ben were mar- and in 1907 he left for Rehoboth, The family moved back to Kansas in ried in 1896. His health must have New Mexico, to teach in the Christian 1902.35 improved signifi cantly and by 1896 he school there. Adam and Peternella (de Vries) was able to farm 130 acres.29 Further, At the age of eighteen and in poor Jonas came to Maxwell from the the couple had seventeen children, health, Mattie Hoogeboom arrived Netherlands in the summer of 1901. some of whom did not survive. Folk- from Grand Rapids in April 1897. A Although almost all of the families erts had a beautiful, strong voice and few days after she arrived she was full in the Maxwell enclave lived with singing was very much a part of their of hope, “I can notice I do feel bet- very serious illness and death, this lives. In all likelihood he led the sing- ter here.”34 She taught in the Max- family seems to have suffered more ing in the Maxwell church services well Christian School for fi ve years than most.36 Adam was fi fty-nine

16 Volume XXVI • Number 2 • 2008

years old when the family arrived, and Peternella was fi fty-six. They had already known the loss of two of their daughters to tuberculosis in the Netherlands. One of their sons had fallen in an ice skating accident and, as a result of his injuries, was institutionalized. When another son became ill, Adam and Nellie made the decision to move to Maxwell. But a year after their arrival they experi- enced what they termed the “heaviest blow of our lives,” when their son Stoffel, twenty-seven, died. “Unaware of the danger, he tried to cross a fast-moving stream.” 37 Syne Brands found his neighbor drowned and the horses still hitched to the wagon.38 Peternella literally tore her hair out when she heard the news. Their daughter, Roelfe, married a Doornbos who worked for the railroad and died tragically when a train rolled over his legs and amputated them. She mar- ried again to Thomas Broersma.39 Eventually they moved to Denver. Menne (Mike) Norden had arrived in America in 1891, alone and ill at Jan “John” Van Wijk and his wife Neeltje Van’t Sant, and their surviving children came to Maxwell the age of eighteen, “. . . so sick he in 1899 to farm, not because anyone in the family was ill. He was active in the church, serving as an elder, and was moderately successful in farming. Photo courtesy of Millie Van Wyke. couldn’t do a day’s work.”40 By March 1894 he was working as a farm hand for Haye Oldenburger41 and later he man, Montana, with the Nordens. in Michigan in 1897, came to Max- and Geert Smit were farming partners, Later, when Wiebo’s health worsened well in August 1900, and returned both of them suffering from tubercu- and so he could be treated at the to Michigan on 13 August 1901. He losis. Mike married Geradina Jonas in sanitorium there, the family moved to died in Graafschap a few days later at December 1901, a few months after Denver with only “a dollar and an old the age of twenty-nine. In an obituary she had arrived. By the time they blanket.”43 notice that appeared in De Wachter moved to Montana in 1909, they had About 1898, at the age of seven- Gertie wrote that he died “quite un- seven children, fi ve of whom sur- teen and along with her brother John, expectedly, in spite of our anticipating vived. Grace Sikkens left the Netherlands it. Together we looked everywhere for Wiebo Smit immigrated about for Maxwell.44 Her fi ancé, John T. help, but it pleased the Lord not to 1897 at the age of twenty-three, for Brandsma, came as soon after as he heal his body.”47 his health.42 Later, presumably after could, which turned out to be four The Van Wijk (Wyke) family was his health improved, he and Wil- years later, and the two were married one of the few who did not come to lem Feller farmed as partners, and in on the day he arrived.45 The couple Maxwell for health-related reasons. December 1902 he married Christina had seven children,46 three of whom Jan “John” and Neeltje (Van’t Sant), Jonas. They also had fi ve children were born in Maxwell. thirty-fi ve and twenty-nine respective- quickly, two of whom died. The fam- Jacob and Gertie (Bomers) Dragt ly, had been a part of the failed Dutch ily lived in an adobe house with a dirt were both residents at the sanitorium community in Crook, Colorado, and fl oor. Shortly after the church had in 1900. Their story also is a short had arrived in the summer of 1899 disbanded, the family left for Boze- and sad one. They had been married with their four surviving children,

17 perhaps because Jan while the children found temporary were still young work for the Atchi- so that their new son, Topeka and father would love Santa Fe Railroad. 48 the children as his They also wanted to own.51 Harm Boxum join a Christian Re- had been part of the formed church where “Alamosa Disaster” their children could in Colorado in late be baptized and be 1892 to mid 1893 educated in a Chris- and perhaps he re- tian school. They membered Kate from lived in a simple ado- those sad days. He be house and rented read of Geert’s death two parcels of land. in De Wachter in John “owned six February 1903, and horses, helped to buy began corresponding a threshing machine with Kate, moved to for the commu- Maxwell, and they nity, and was always married in Janu- looking for new and ary 1904. They had better seeds and Kate Zwier’s fi rst husband, Geert Smit, died of tuberculosis, leaving her with two small chil- three children to- farming methods. He dren. She and Harm Boxum married in 1904, had three of their own children, and raised what gether and as Geert rotated crops, under- today is called a “blended family.” Photo courtesy of Alvin and Helen Smit. Smit had anticipated, stood the irrigation “Harm Boxum al- system, and sought out cooperative in Las Vegas, New Mexico, where ways thought of Joe and Peter Smit as ways for farmers to share in work and she died in 1906. Simon had died of his own sons.”52 In 1905, as several of profi ts.”49 In 1903 he was happy with tuberculosis in Maxwell in June 1903, the early settler families were leav- his harvest—550 bushels of oats, 30 at thirty-three, leaving his parents ing and hope for the community was bushels of wheat, along with alfalfa (caretakers of the sanitorium) to waning, Harm became an elder. He hay, and wild hay. In July 1905 John care for their two surviving children, was a learned man, and something of took on another job, checking on the Anna and Pieter. The youngsters an author, and presumably he read irrigation system throughout the re- joined Pieter and Neeltje Zwier liv- sermons during worship, as he often gion— sometimes a twenty-fi ve-mile ing in the sanitorium, and after the did after the blended Boxum family trek in the saddle. Most of the time senior Pieter’s death the grandmother moved to Montana.53 the Van Wykes were in Maxwell; the and grandchildren moved to Yel- Trientje (Kate) Zwier (daughter of church had no pastor, so Van Wyke lowstone City, Montana, living next Jan and Winnie) was married in Max- was one of those who read sermons. to the Harm and Kate Zwier Boxum well to John Klynsma in April 1904 He was elected an elder and clerk of family. 50 and the couple had a young son. John the consistory in 1902, a position he Geert Smit and Kate (Trientje) had come to Maxwell for his health at held until the church disbanded in Zwier were married in Maxwell in the age of sixteen, and was a patient 1908. November 1898. He had tuberculosis in the sanitorium. He died at twenty- Reina Buist answered an ad for a and had arrived three years earlier nine in January 1907 from gangrene housekeeper placed by Simon Zwier at the age of nineteen. When Kate after being kicked by a horse. In June (son of Pieter and Neeltje); they were was expecting their second child, of that same year, Widow Kate gave married in Maxwell in January 1898. his health worsened and he realized birth to another son. Some years The couple had three children in a his death was imminent. Because later, Kate received a letter from Jim very short time period, one of whom his stepfather had treated him like Smit, a widower with fi ve children was born disabled and died soon after a hired hand, a situation he wanted in Hospers, Iowa, who asked her to birth. In 1901 Reina became ill and to avoid for his own children, he come and marry him, and she did. was hospitalized eighty miles away encouraged Kate to remarry quickly, “They married for need in those days.

18 Volume XXVI • Number 2 • 2008

pans, along with two watches and a half share of crops still in the fi eld, were valued at just under $500. George Branderhorst arrived in the United States in July 1896, at the age of thirty-eight, apparently with the promise of a position as director of the soon to be founded Bethesda Sanitorium.56 He resigned his position in late 1899 but remained in Maxwell with his wife, Anna Dokter. In 1901 the family moved to Michigan and by 1911 they were in Kuner, Colorado, There was so much death and so with several of their old Maxwell Idzerd Van Dellen, ordained 54 57 in 1895 during a service many children.” friends, notably the Van Wykes. conducted by his father, served Jan Hazenberg and Elske van der Eventually they settled in Michigan. western churches for forty-fi ve Velde had been married in Marum, When the Christian Reformed years. In addition to pastoring Groningen, on 5 October 1902 and Church in Rilland, Colorado, dis- congregations, he supported the establishment of Christian came to Maxwell as newlyweds. In solved, Classis gave the membership day schools, the operation of April 1903 he accepted the posi- records and spiritual oversight of Bethesda Sanitarium and its tion of janitor in the church. As the some of its members to the Maxwell successor Bethesda Sanatori- Dutch community in Maxwell was church—Elizabeth (Rougoor) van um, as well as being a prolifi c author. Photo courtesy of the dissipating they made plans to move Lummel and several children; Gjalt Archives, Calvin College, to Kuner, Colorado. Jan died there in and Klaaske Heslinga with one child Grand Rapids, Michigan. February 1913, at the age of thirty- in Nepesta, Colorado; and Piebe and six, leaving two small children. In his Sarah Rosendall with three children obituary the widow wrote, “It was my in Alamosa.58 The minutes show an privilege to be united with him in a active interchange of letters back happy marriage for eleven years. He and forth between these families contracted tuberculosis and for that and the consistory. Arnaud Johan reason we moved to New Mexico to van Lummel, a school teacher in the regain his health. However, it was Netherlands, had been a leader in the in vain. Like it has so many others, short-lived Rilland church, preach- pale death felled him at mid-life. We ing the sermon at its fi rst service in thank God that during his life he December 1892.59 The family later sought and found the Lord; and we moved to Holland, Michigan, where believe that he now sings before the he graduated from Western Theologi- throne.”55 cal Seminary in 1906 and served RCA Johannes Bosma arrived in late churches in New Jersey, Iowa, and 1895 and died in May 1898 at the age Grand Rapids.60 of thirty-three, during which time When the decision was made to he had been elected a deacon. John disband the congregation in 1908, the Schoolland, Harm Westerman, and remaining members were transferred Rev. Van Dellen inventoried his estate to the Denver Christian Reformed and closed out his affairs. His horses, Church, where Idzerd Van Dellen, the cows, calves, chickens, farm imple- only minister of Maxwell, had become ments, oats, wheat, bedstead, pots and the minister the previous year. o

19 Endnotes 1. Consistory minutes and other 14. E-mail from John Nauta, 17 sented in Honor of John Henry Kromminga offi cial records are inconsistent in the January 2008. at His Retirement as President of Calvin spellings of fi rst and even last names. 15. Ale Buursma was a Reformed Theological Seminary, Peter De Klerk In addition, some of the settlers in Church in America pastor in Grand and Richard R. De Ridder, eds., (Grand Maxwell Americanized their names Rapids who apparently never lived in Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983) 72-98. rather quickly (but not always con- Maxwell. He later served on the board 29. Letter from Mattie Hoogeboom, sistently) while others retained their of the sanitarium. Letters from Haye 29 April 1897, provided by Ken Van Dutch names, and still others adopted Oldenburger, 9 December 1893 and 17 Dellen. nicknames. As much as possible, we March 1894; translated and supplied by 30. Jaarboekje—Hollandsch Chris- have used Dutch names initially while John Nauta. telijke Gereformeerde Kerk in Noord sometimes switching to more commonly 16. Information provided by Joan Amerika, 1902. used names later. Carlson, 12 February 2006. 31. “The Schoolland Family Tree.” 2. Donald Sinnema, The First Dutch 17. Jacob Van Hinte, Netherland- 32. Conversation with Marlowe Settlement in Alberta: Letters from the ers in America: a Study of Emigration Pranger, 17 February 2006. Pioneer Years 1903-1914, trans. and ed. and Settlement in the Nineteenth and 33. Conversation with Nelle Vander (Calgary: University of Calgary Press, Twentieth Centuries in the United States Ark, 13 January 2006. 2005), 12. of America, Robert P. Swierenga, general 34. Letter from Mattie Hoogeboom 3. Conversation with Bert Joling, 24 editor, Adriaan de Wit, chief transla- to “Esteemed Dear Friend,” 29 April September 2007. tor, (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1897, provided by Ken Van Dellen. 4. Information provided by John 1985), 666. 35. “The Childhood History of Nauta, in an e-mail dated 17 January 18. Conversations with Gladys Eller- Martha Brands Cook,” an unpublished 2008. man, 5 November 2007, and Connie family history dated 30 April 1976, pro- 5. Reintje was Jan Postma’s sister; Nauta, 9 November 2007. vided by JoAnne Brands Baron. she and Haye Oldenburger were fi rst 19. Information provided by Loyce 36. Conversations with Jean Smith cousins. Letter from Jan Postma to his Rottman, in an e-mail, 10 November Zoetewey, 5 April 2008, and Wiebo brother, Haye Postma, dated 26 March 2007. Smith Jr., 5 April 2008. 1893; translated and supplied by John 20. Information provided by Jim 37. De Wachter obituary notice, 3 Nauta. Terpstra in an e-mail, 2 September 2007. September 1902, Vital Records card 6. He was an offi cial with the Max- 21. Conversation with Jesse Lucas, fi le, Archives, Calvin College, Grand well Land Grant Company and son of 14 August 2007. Rapids, Michigan. translated by Gerrit Samuel Van Houten, Dutch Minister of 22. Marian Schoolland, A Goodly W. Sheeres. Internal Affairs from 1894-1897. Heritage (Grand Rapids: William B. 38. “The Childhood History of 7. The estate included 900 bushels Eerdmans, 1957), 47-55. Martha Brands Cook,” an unpublished of oats, 30 of corn, 3 horses, 2 sows, 23. His fi nal affairs were settled by family history, 30 April 1976, supplied 9 pigs, 5 ducks, 24 chickens, a pony, a John B. Schoolland, and as a remem- by JoAnne Brands Baron. colt, a cow calf, a plow, a wagon, and brance Schoolland kept a chair which 39. Conversation with Jean Smith two harnesses. had belonged to Boersma. That chair Zoetewey, 5 April 2008. 8. Document supplied by John has been proudly handed down in the 40. Conversation with Robert and Nauta. Schoolland family. Florence Schoolland Mary Norden, 3 January 2008. 9. Conversation with Gerrit Praas- De Ruiter and John Weston Schoolland, 41. Letter from Haye Oldenburger to terink, 16 September 2007. Wormnest in an e-mail, 7 September 2006. Haye Postma, 17 March 1894, translated was born in the United States, the son of 24. He was a brother of Klaas School- and supplied by John Nauta. parents who had immigrated in 1873. land, “The Schoolland Family Tree,” 42. Conversation with Jean Smith 10. Undated introductory sum- 1972 and 1995 editions, an unpublished Zoetewey, 5 April 2008. mary, Maxwell Christian Reformed history written by Jeannette Witt, pro- 43. Conversation with Jean Smith Church consistory, translated by Gerrit vided by Florence Schoolland DeRuiter. Zoetewey, 5 April 2008. W. Sheeres; Archives, Calvin College, 25. E-mail from John Weston School- 44. Conversation with Dorothy Grand Rapids, Michigan. land, 7 September 2006. Brandsma Wassenaar, 31 May 2007. 11. Conversations with Rev. Richard 26. Conversation with Ron Berkhof, 45. Meindert Bosch, Bridges Across Venema, 21 July 2007, and Stan Sprik, 18 August 2007. the Years: Ninety Years of History, The 19 September 2007. 27. Brother of Jan Zwier. Bethesda Hospital Association, Denver, 12. De Wachter obituary notice, 18 28. Peter De Klerk, “The Eccle- Colorado 1895 to 1985 (Denver: Bethes- March 1903, Vital Records card fi le, siastical Struggles of the Rilland and da PsycHealth System, Inc., 1988), 37. Archives, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Crook Christian Reformed Churches in 46. Conversation with John Pousma, Michigan. Colorado in 1893,” Perspectives on the 29 May 2007. 13. Letter from Haye Oldenburger to Christian Reformed Church: Studies in Its 47. Translated by Gerrit W. Sheeres. Haye Postma, 12 April 1893; translated History, Theology, and Ecumenicity: Pre- 48. Three other children were born and supplied by John Nauta.

20 Volume XXVI • Number 2 • 2008

in Maxwell and later one in Kuner, 54. Conversation with Wilma West- cal Struggles of the Rilland and Crook,” Colorado. erman Brouwer, 14 July 2007. 77. 49. Millie Van Wyke, A Dutch Ro- 55. De Wachter, 12 March 1913, 60. Conversations with Rev. Peter mance . . . An American Dream! (Denver, Archives, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Shortway, 17 and 23 July 2007. Dur- Colorado, 1995), 202. Michigan. Translated by Gerrit W. ing these conversations Rev. Shortway 50. Information provided by Alida Sheeres. was seated in a chair used by Abraham Postma Dekker, 5 November 2007, and 56. Conversation with Don Brander- Kuyper, Prime Minister of the Neth- the 1910 federal census. horst, 3 April 2007. erlands from 1901-1905; Kuyper and 51. Conversation with Alvin Smit, 12 57. Conversation with Arlene Bran- van Lummel were personal friends.49. November 2007. derhorst Christian, 24 March 2008. Millie Van Wyke, A Dutch Romance . . . 52. Ibid. 58. Consistory minutes, November An American Dream! (Denver, Colorado, 53. Conversation with Betty Schaap, 1895, translated by Richard H. Harms. 1995), 202. 5 November 2007. 59. Peter De Klerk, “The Ecclesiasti-

21 Pacifi c Coast CRC Churches Before World War II, Part II Howard B. Spaan

Everett, Washington effort sponsored by Classis Orange As with some musical pieces, the City, also was started in 1902. Arling- story of Everett Christian Reformed ton was a farming community, while Church (CRC), organized in 1911, Everett was beginning to develop as a has a prelude. In 1902 a congrega- lumber milling town. After 1906 the tion of seven families with thirty-fi ve Everett/Arlington church disappeared, individuals was organized, with the leaving no records. handful of children formed into the As the twentieth century began, Everett’s population was about 8,000 and the town’s hallmarks were its planked streets and boardwalks. These were dusty and warped in the summer and fl oated on a sea of mud during the rainy, winter months. Makeshift housing served the growing number of millworkers, while Victori- an-style homes with ornate scrollwork and cornices served the well-to-do citizens. But Everett was still an emerging town, with cows often pastured inside the city limits. Work- ers earned $1 - $2 for a ten-hour day. By 1910 Everett had become a boom- town with a population of 30,000 and was called the “City of Smokestacks.” With twelve lumber mills and six- teen shingle mills, it was the largest lumber processing town on the Pacifi c Coast and a center for manufacturing window sashes and doors, and paper. It was these industries that attracted The fi rst graduating class (1925) of the American Christian School in Everett, Washington. The teacher is J. W. Postma; the students are, l-r: Marinus Goote, Betty Kadyck, Neil Palistijn, Elsie new residents, including the Dutch. Boersma, and John Mulder. Photo courtesy of the Archives, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan. During 1908 ministers Peter J. Hoekenga from Lynden and Derk H. Sunday school. During the four, or so, Muyskens from Oak Harbor vis- Howard Spaan, a minister living in Beaverton, Oregon, has written on a years the congregation existed, it had ited Everett on various occasions. A variety of topics having to do with the two clerks, R. Eylander and M. Brou- meeting, held the following year to Pacifi c Northwest. He is the longest wer. The 1906 CRC yearbook lists determine interest in organizing a serving stated clerk of classis in the his- the congregation as having moved to Dutch-speaking congregation, came tory of the Christian Reformed Church. Arlington, about fi fteen miles north of to naught as some advocated join- Everett. Arlington, a mission outreach ing the Reformed Church in America

22 Volume XXVI • Number 2 • 2008

(RCA) and others the CRC. Just ing construction, services were held Amsterdam, Idaho over two years later, the CRC Classis in the YMCA and in an Episcopalian The next congregation organized in Pacifi c (formed in 1910) decided to parish hall. The new facility was dedi- the Pacifi c Northwest was located call a home missionary to be sta- cated in 1923. about twenty-three miles south of tioned in Everett. Klaas Poppen took During the three-year ministry of Twin Falls, Idaho, on the Oregon up the work and services were held Jacob Mulder the congregation had Short Line Railroad. Salmon Creek in a house at 1912—25th Street, the regular Dutch and English services fl ows through this area, about thirty upstairs of which was occupied by and a Christian school was estab- miles from its source in Nevada, fl ow- the Ralph Van Zwol family. In March lished. His ministry saw a good deal ing into the Snake River some twenty- 1911 the group became an organized of illness in his own family and fi ve miles west of Twin Falls. It once congregation with twenty-three com- among others; Mulder was remem- fl owed through miles of sagebrush municant and thirty baptized mem- bered for his encouraging and com- territory inhabited by jack rabbits bers. During Poppen’s relatively brief forting visits to ailing congregants. and coyotes until the federal govern- pastorate efforts failed to raise suffi - During the diffi culties of the Great ment dammed the creek, allowing the cient funds for a new building. Depression the full salary of pastor region to become irrigated farmland. Arend Guikema was the next John Vanden Hoek Jr. was not always It was diffi cult clearing the land of home missionary and a branch of paid, and the Young People’s Society rocks, leveling the terrain, and dig- the church was established in Sultan contributed signifi cantly toward pay- ging irrigation ditches, but a small some twenty-four miles to the east. ing the mortgages on the church and Dutch enclave, not deterred by the Because most of their salaries were Christian school buildings.2 Near the hard work, came in 1911 and named paid by a classis, home missionaries end of the 1930s the Young People’s their community Amsterdam. were also required to preach else- Society became a key group in creat- Those Dutch settlers, to whom where; in Guikema’s case, in Montana ing the Young People’s League of the church life was important, built a and Alberta. During his pastorate the Pacifi c Northwest. Herman Boersema frame church edifi ce even as they Dorcas ladies’ society was formed and and Elizabeth Oosterhof, later the built their houses. While traveling on its members presented the congrega- League’s secretary, both from Everett, the train along Salmon Creek, home tion with its fi rst communion set, along with a president of Second Lyn- missionary Peter Hoekenga asked which graced the communion table den Young People’s Society, conceived a fellow traveler if he ever heard of for thirty-eight years. Guikema left the establishment of a Bible confer- Amsterdam. The ready response was, to serve a church in South Dakota in ence which became known as the “That’s the place where they had 1916. Seabeck Bible Conference, on Hood a church building before anything Cornelius Vriesman, the minister Canal, an arm of Puget Sound. The else.”3 The visiting dominie found a in Zillah, was the next home mission- conference was short-lived due to Ladies’ Society and a Young People’s ary in Everett. With his coming, new World War II, but was revived as the Society with eighteen members. Most lots were purchased on which a small Warm Beach Conference following of the families came from Manhat- structure was built, with a room at the the war. tan, Montana; Waupun, Wisconsin; rear for consistory meetings and cat- Everett had the reputation of being Grangeville, Idaho; or Zillah, Wash- echism classes. A parsonage was built a “singing church.” Neighbors on ington, and the membership records in 1918 by his father-in-law, Johannes 234th Street stood on the sidewalk in reveal that most of the adults were in Daverman,1 the same year the young front of the church listening to the their early thirties. people purchased a chapel reed organ. congregation sing Dutch psalms. They Interestingly, in spite of the pioneer As requests for English preaching enjoyed the music even though they setting the facility featured electric grew, twice a month a third service, did not understand the language. lights. Thanks to the home missionar- held in the evening, was in English. Although more and more cars came ies in Classis Pacifi c, on 7 May 1912 In 1920 the congregation assumed into use, the congregation came to the congregation of forty members full fi nancial responsibility and Vries- be known as a “walking church.” As was organized. Their only minis- man became their pastor rather than a limited parking near the sanctuary ter, William Meyer, was installed in home missionary. The congregation’s led the curbside parking of cars to February 1914, but took a call to growth led to selling the sanctuary, radiate out, it seemed to onlookers Minnesota in 1917. Serious problems which was moved, and a new larger that groups of people came from all with the water supply developed, structure was built on the site. Dur- directions to attend services. which caused most of the settlers to

23 leave, starting in 1918; a number of could, fi rst renting and then buying discover a Christian Reformed min- members moved to Ripon, California, land. They were religious folks, at- ister present. This event became the while others went to Grangeville, Ida- tending the Free Methodist or Presby- catalyst for the society to be organized ho, and Zillah, Washington. A couple terian churches, or the services of the as an independent congregation that of families stayed, but the congrega- Salvation Army held in a park. in 1912 elected two elders and two tion disbanded in 1919; the remaining One Sunday morning Dick Hoek deacons. The immigrants who had members became part of the Manhat- and Peter Verhoeven were having their membership certifi cates from the tan, Montana, congregation, almost a conversation, during which they Netherlands gave them to Bolt, who 300 miles to the northeast. wondered if the Dutch were interested urged them to ask to join Classis Pella in having their own church services. that September. Classis gave Hanford Hanford, California Hoek volunteered to host such a permission to organize and granted During the fi rst decade of the twen- group in his house during which he $1,000 annually toward the salary for tieth century several Dutch families would read a sermon and they all a home missionary, which the con- settled in the vicinity of Hanford, a would lustily sing Dutch psalms. gregation was to augment as much as town of 4,800 located in the Central After the fi rst meeting, all left with possible and also provide a furnished Valley of California near Kings River, enthusiasm and agreed to continue home. The new congregation was able to purchase the old Presbyterian Church building for $1,000, which was moved to the congregation’s land. But the congregation experienced a series of diffi culties with their early minis- ters. Leonard P. Brink, working on the Navajo mission fi eld, accepted a call to be a home missionary at Hanford. Very soon after his arrival catechism classes were begun and a Sunday school came into being. A parson- age was built, but they had lived in it for only a few days before Mrs. Brink, whose health had been failing, died. After her death, “LP,” as he was known, returned to his former work in New Mexico. During the early spring of 1915 Frederik Stuart became The Hanford Church and parsonage; the parsonage was built in 1914. Photo courtesy of the Ar- the next missionary pastor in Han- chives, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan. ford. At the beginning of 1919 Han- ford was able to call him to be their which provided the irrigation source meeting; a board was chosen to over- pastor exclusively, but he died just for growing apricots, peaches, grapes, see the meeting of the new society. fi ve months later. During the next two and grain, as well as supporting small The number of worshipers grew so years, eight calls extended by Hanford dairy farms. About half of the Dutch that meetings had to be moved from were declined. Finally, John De Jonge had come directly from the Nether- Hoek’s house to Dewey Hall. One came in 1921 and served there for lands and took whatever work was day, as Hoek was working as the eight years. His successor, John Vande available; some—particularly young bookkeeper in the Foster store, Rev. Lune, who thought a change of cli- men—milked, while others worked Jacob Bolt stopped in, because he had mate and environment might improve in the fi elds. Most came with only learned a group of Dutch were meet- his health, asked to be released after their clothes and a few other personal ing each Sunday to listen to sermons just a few weeks. Richard Frens came belongings so the farmers provided being read. He offered to stay and during the Great Depression and at them with items such as used furni- preach for them the next Sunday. That times his monthly salary could only ture. The immigrants saved all they Sunday worshipers were surprised to by paid in installments. His unselfi sh

24 Volume XXVI • Number 2 • 2008

attitude endeared him to the congre- mission station in the Christian health. At that time one of the most gation during the decade in which he Reformed Church. Faase wanted to prominent ministers in the denomi- served as their pastor. remain independent so the meet- nation, Johannes Groen, who was on ings moved to the Zimmer house, leave in California for health reasons, Los Angeles, California which was their place of worship for agreed to serve as an interim minis- One winter after Jacob Zimmer of well over a year. Typically, Jacob led ter in Los Angeles. When his health Muskegon, Michigan, suffered two the service and read a sermon. One improved, he returned to his con- serious bouts with pneumonia and his Sunday only the Zimmer family was gregation, Eastern Avenue in Grand doctor told him he probably would present but the service was held none- Rapids. Los Angeles extended a call not survive another severe Michigan theless. Jacob read the sermon and to him and he arrived in November winter, he, his wife Della, and their their young son, Ray, gathered the of- 1920. The church prospered dur- young children moved to Denver, fering. About once a month Rev. Bolt ing his tenure and the congregation where the climate and altitude were came from Redlands to preach. The Americanized from two Dutch and helping those with tuberculosis. They Zimmer sewing machine served as the one English service each Sunday to had to leave behind most of their pulpit. Following the service, cof- one Dutch and two English services. furniture, taking only a barrel packed fee and cake would be served. Della Los Angeles family histories further with dishes and linens, and a sew- Zimmer always had a big pot of soup, note how much the Young People’s ing machine. But the cold and snowy while others also brought food for Groups enjoyed their roles in the Denver winter did not help Jacob’s re- lunch. The second service followed church. Fellowship as well as song spiratory condition and, on the advice shortly after lunch. fests and social events were hallmark of a doctor, they contacted Rev. Jacob In March 1913 Classis Pella made events. A singing school, precursor of Bolt in Redlands. They left Colorado the group a mission station and Fred- the later church choir, also came into and three days and nights later were erik Drost agreed to serve as home being during this period. in warm California with swaying palm missionary there, arriving at the end Both space needs for the grow- trees and blooming fl owers. of 1913. The next spring the group ing congregation and an unfavorable Six weeks later an unusual weather became an organized church, with neighborhood led to the purchase of condition, called the “Big Freeze of seven families and six single people. a property at East 47th Place and San 1913,” destroyed crops, including As was the case elsewhere, immedi- Pedro Avenue. Here a new building oranges which Redlands sold to the ately a Sunday school and catechism was dedicated in February 1923. In- nation in numbers greater than that classes were organized. A month terestingly the bid for the new struc- of any other region. The “Big Freeze” later two lots on East 39th Street were ture was $57,775, just $75 more than created an economic depression and purchased for $2,000 and by August a what was realized from the sale of the Zimmer, a carpenter, could fi nd no small frame church had been com- old church and parsonage. work. With a group of friends in the pleted for $339.60. Funds were raised Groen, however, continued to same circumstances, Zimmer headed by securing a bank loan and monetary struggle with physical diffi culties and for Los Angeles, seventy miles to the subscriptions from the members. was obliged to sit while preaching. west, where work was readily avail- Upon leaving the Zimmer home, the During the late winter of 1924 he was able in the city of 320,000. He rented congregation presented them with a forced to discontinue his ministry and a house just to the south of the city’s rug and two rocking chairs to “rec- on the afternoon of 19 March 1924, center. The only Dutch church there ompense” them for their trouble. with most of the consistory members was that of the Nederduits, who The congregation experienced steady at his bedside, he died. He was well- would not accept the family because growth both numerically and fi nan- known for his progressive ministry they were Christian Reformed. cially. in both the church and in the com- The next Sunday the Zimmers Drost left for the Christian Re- munity.4 attended a Nazarene church. After formed Church in Oak Harbor, Wash- Gerhardus Holwerda came as the hearing the sermon, Jacob Zimmer ington, at the beginning of 1917, and next minister in the summer of 1924. decided to not go there again, but to in May 1918 was replaced by Peter The Dutch service was discontinued start an independent Dutch church. Hoekenga, who stayed a mere eleven and again a stressful time developed. Meetings were held in the home of months; tensions that had developed Less than two years after arriving, he Mr. Faase. Very soon after, the group in the congregation caused stress to left the ordained ministry to teach at expressed the desire to become a the minister who was already in frail the university level.

25 Watson Groen, the son of Johannes Ripon First CRC, one Sunday in Au- Groen, came in 1927 to the now gust 1915 Brink preached in English Americanized congregation marked during the second service, which had with renewed enthusiasm. The need not been announced, causing “consid- for more space became urgent and a erable dissatisfaction, which resulted 1929 addition to the south of the au- in a lively exchange of opinions.” ditorium provided classrooms and an After Brink left Hanford, Frederik assembly room. During his pastorate Stuart, also of Hanford, served Afton a new church was begun in Glendale, from time-to-time. Another diary with one family from the Los Angeles entry reads, “With Dominie Stuart we congregation and several other new did the family visiting jogging along families joining the new congregation, behind ‘Old Joe,’ myself holding the yet the Los Angeles membership con- reins and the dominie holding the tinued to grow. He was an effective lantern.” preacher who was also skilled at lead- L. P. (Leonard Peter) Brink Life in the little colony, according ing meetings and dealing with cases served most of his ministry in to Avink, had some good aspects, but New Mexico, but went to Cali- of discipline. In the spring of 1934 fornia briefl y, due to the failing mainly that of discouragement, for ex- he took leave for work in the Second health of his fi rst wife. Photo ample, “the oats are turning out well, CRC of Lynden, Washington. One courtesy of the Archives, Calvin as high as 85 bushels. Mr. [Simon] Los Angeles memorial booklet notes, College, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Piers lost another horse, the sixth “When Rev. Groen bade farewell to moved to the area and encouraged horse to drop dead.” Before the end the congregation, peace and harmony others to follow. Avink and his wife of 1913 the Schuilings had returned prevailed. He was an unsung hero of moved in June 1913 to a community to Manhattan, Montana. And during the faith.”5 of approximately 125 residents. the next six months, Avink records in In 1934 Sebastian Struyk took up The CRC congregation at Afton his diary the constant problems with the helm of the congregation and began with six families meeting in fl ooding during the winter, drought remained until his retirement in 1948. the Marvin Chapel as a branch of the during the summer, diffi culty in He pressed for broadening of their Hanford congregation.6 They were obtaining fresh water and clear land “life view,” both within the congrega- the Houtman family from the New titles; he was concerned that Rutgers tion and also in dealing with broader Era, Michigan, area; the Avinks from had greatly misrepresented the possi- culture. The congregation disbanded Ottawa County, Michigan; the Brow- bilities for profi table farming at Afton. in 1980, but throughout its history ers (Brouwers) from Denver, Colo- As early as June 1914 Avink notes that it attempted to adjust to its changing rado; the Schuilings from Manhattan, their decision to move to Afton from circumstances. Montana; and the Stevens family from Modesto had been a mistake.8 The Modesto.7 In July 1914, they were elders’ minutes make clear the small Afton, California organized as a congregation by Rev. congregation struggled with fi nances, During 1911 Egbert Stevens gathered L. P. Brink and elders from Hanford. which was confi rmed by Avink when a small group of Dutch immigrants Elected as elders were Stevens and he observed in a 1916 diary entry, “As for services in Prescott School north Avink. a Holland Colony it looks decidedly of Modesto, California. His effort to The use of English in the wor- dismal.” Apparently this accounts encourage more Hollanders to settle ship services quickly became a for a prospecting trip made by Avink in that community had limited suc- divisive matter in the congregation. and four others to the Montague area cess. When Henry Avink arrived he Initially the fi rst service on Sun- in northern California, where they concluded that Modesto, with its day was in English, the second in reported being impressed with the 6,500 residents, was too worldly for a Dutch, but this was quickly changed clover and timothy (hay). Reformed congregation. At about the to both being in Dutch; only if a third As had been the case in Modesto, same time J. J. Rutgers of the Hol- was held, the language would be few additional settlers were attracted land Land Company was promoting English. As early as 1914 those taking to Afton. Marie Weertman, from land in the Sacramento Valley, be- catechetical instruction asked that it Ripon, was engaged to the Stevens’ tween the Sacramento River and Butte be given in English. And according son Peter and went to Butte City for Creek, about 170 miles north. Stevens to Avink’s diary, now archived at the a Christmas vacation. On her return

26 Volume XXVI • Number 2 • 2008

trip, while crossing the swollen Sac- were blasted with dynamite. Dyna- pastor. Soon after his arrival a church ramento River in a canoe, the oars- mite was so prevalent that Vos’s very building was constructed and then a man asked if she could swim and told young daughter Winnie, when given parsonage. A goodly share of the cost her what to do if the canoe capsized. a banana, which she had never seen was provided by other churches in When she arrived back in Ripon the before, exclaimed, “Boom,” since Classis Pacifi c. engagement ended, largely due to the it looked like a stick of dynamite. The Muyskens family lost their prospect of living in Afton. The Vos farm was located across the only child in Sultan. Father and son After the Schuilings left, gradually Skykomish River from nearby Sultan often went fi shing in a slough9 on the other families also left. Although the so that a raft was used to fl oat their Vos land. When he was in his early congregation’s records indicate that cattle across the river. When the raft teens the young man received per- at least thirteen families were part of was just beyond midstream all the mission to go fi shing alone since his the congregation during its six years, cattle, becoming spooked, plunged father was occupied with congrega- Avink’s diary made clear that the most into the river and then, making it to tional duties, and the lad drowned in members at any one time was ten the other side, escaped into the brush the slough on this fi shing expedition. families. The Avinks left at the end and trees. It took their owners several Not long after this, Muyskens of 1917. Afton could ill-afford such days to recapture all the cattle. accepted a call from Second CRC membership losses. In 1919 the deci- By 1912 the few families were ea- in Lynden, Washington. That same sion was made to disband. Remaining ger to establish a church. They began year, 1926, Arend Guikema left his assets of $14.32 were sent to the clas- by holding services in the Vos home. ministry in South Dakota to return to sical treasurer, and the communion Arend Guikema, Classis Pacifi c home the Northwest becoming the Sultan service, pulpit Bible, and bell were missionary assigned to be the resident minister until he retired from ac- sent to the recently organized church minister of the recently organized tive ministry in 1935. The members in Ripon. Three families, Tubbergen, Everett congregation, came to preach from Everett joined one of the annual Pieter Houtman, and Gala Houtman, for them. He traveled twenty-fi ve Fourth of July picnics on Lake Ste- remained in the area and became part miles by train on Saturday and left vens. A teenager fell into the lake and of the Ripon congregation. again on Monday. The library table in then went home to change her cloth- the front room of that home served as ing. Sultan observers commented that Sultan, Washington the pulpit. Lunch was served and the the Everett family must have a lot of Making a living in the Netherlands left-over cake, baked by their grand- money to be able to afford such an proved very diffi cult for Harm Vos. mother, was eaten by the children extensive wardrobe for her. After fi fteen years of marriage, the after school the following week. With the advent of automobiles, family, including four children and Sultan was a mill town with four more Dutch farmers began settling his parents-in-law, left for the Arling- shingle mills and a population of 450. in the Snoqualmie River Valley near ton, Washington area. Vos wanted to After two years the group had grown Duvall, approximately twenty miles be his own boss, so he rented a farm to eleven families, so that services to the southwest, near two Sultan some twenty miles to the south, near were moved into the Congregational families who were already living in Snohomish. This property was in Church. All services were in Dutch, that area. In 1934 a branch congrega- the low-lying lands of the Snohom- although very early on the young tion was established in Duvall, with ish River Valley, where fl ooding was people successfully petitioned to have Guikema conducting services in both a regular problem. In 1909 he found catechism instruction in English. A locations. When Guikema retired, Pe- 360 acres of land for sale in the much Young People’s Society came into be- ter J. Hoekstra came from Vancouver, narrower Skykomish River Valley, ing with dues of one dollar a year for British Columbia. During his ministry some twenty miles upstream from honorary members and fi ve cents per the Sultan public school introduced the Snohomish River. He was able to meeting for active members. In 1920 “released time” and he took advan- fi nance the purchase by dividing the a country schoolhouse became the tage of this opportunity by holding acreage and selling 40-acre parcels to congregation’s home. About the same catechism classes at his church a few a number of people, including four time Derk Muyskens, who had previ- blocks away. When Everett became Dutch families, most of them his rela- ously served twice in Oak Harbor as an English-speaking church, a few tives. well as in other parts of the coun- Everett people drove the twenty- The land was manually cleared try, served the congregation on an fi ve miles to Sultan to worship in of trees and brush but the stumps interim basis and later as its full-time Dutch. The church remained a small

27 congregation until Sultan and Duvall in.” Water for the kitchen was heated The Sunday routine after the morning merged into one congregation and in a tank on the side of the stove. She service was lunch—usually consisting relocated to Monroe, a town halfway was fascinated with the clean milk of soup, bread, and canned fruit—fol- between.10 cans and the skimming of the cream lowed by an afternoon service. Marie from the top of each can and having Weertman played the piano, and in Ripon, California the skimmed milk fed to the pigs and 1917 a pump organ was acquired. As noted, Egbert Stevens attempted calves. Windmills pumped water via Music for the young people centered to form a Dutch congregation near pipes into the barn; all you had to do around these instruments and their Modesto. Several years later, as new was open the faucet for fresh water. voices.12 immigrant families moved into the Soon the Schaapmans were able to As more immigrants came into area (including young men from the purchase their own farm in Salida Stanislaus County, and San Joaquin Netherlands, who often worked as with twenty-fi ve cows, seven calves, County to the north, the group moved milkers), services were held with the and six horses.11 their meetings to Ripon, initially Hanford ministers providing guid- Marie Weertman, in an interview, above a business and later in the Odd ance and occasional preaching. Later, reported that, with many young Fellows Hall, which was a luxury for ministers from Redlands also came to Dutch fellows around, the girls the group, for it had good seats and preach. Since the interested Holland- received a lot of attention. Further, soft carpets. A remodeling project of ers were locating in the Salida area, the milkers didn’t do their own the hall led to a move to a dance barn north of Modesto, services were held shopping—Lucy Schaapman bought and this caused Rev. Stuart to advise on alternate Sundays in the homes of all their clothing and Lucy’s mother that they obtain their own property. the Johannes Weertman and Johannes did all their washing and mending. Financial support was sought through Schaapman families. When the Schaapmans fi rst arrived in California, Lubbigje— changed to Lucy—provided a newcomer’s impression of the area. She was amazed to see children even going bare- footed to school. Before First Ripon CRC was organized in 1917, services were held in various locations including the John Schaapman farm near Most of the Salida, California. Photo courtesy of the Archives, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan. girls wore white dresses while the boys wore blue pants; people trav- eled by horse and buggy, on a donkey, or on a bike. She recorded that her brothers earned $30 a month and a few as much as $40 and reportedly the work was easier than it had been in Holland, particularly when milking machines were available. Girls earned $15 to $25 per month as domestics. The canning process intrigued her: “You cook the fruit, then bottle it, and The fi rst building of the Ripon CRC, completed in 1917. The Methodist Church building is in the then tighten the lids so no air can get background, to the right. Photo courtesy of the Archives, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

28 Volume XXVI • Number 2 • 2008

The enlarged fi rst building of the Ripon First CRC during the early 1920s. Photo courtesy of the Archives, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan. subscriptions from the group, and minister, Peter Hoekenga, from Los a Christian day school, which was Stuart solicited additional funds from Angeles. He preached three times each rejected by a congregational vote. But the business community in Ripon, Sunday, twice in Dutch and once in in 1928 a school building was erected. even the Chamber of Commerce. As a English. A steady stream of newcom- The construction was spurred on result, land was donated for a build- ers joined the congregation, but many, when De Jong received support from ing. from a variety of Dutch backgrounds, the church in Manhattan, Montana, With Lambert Ubels as the con- lived long distances from the church which already had a fl ourishing Chris- tractor, a building measuring 20 feet requiring much of Hoekenga’s time to tian school. De Jong became known by 30 feet was erected. The group keep in touch. One issue that became as the “father of the Christian school took occupancy in June 1917. Later paramount during his tenure was system” in Ripon, which grew into a that year Egbert Stevens and others movie attendance. In 1921 the consis- sizeable enterprise. From the school’s returned from Afton, where they had tory presented a protest to the prin- beginning until 1935, no tuition was moved in 1913. A small group from cipal of the Ripon Grammar School charged because church offerings and Idaho also joined the congregation. due to the insistence of one teacher donations paid all the expenses. As a result, permission to organize as who required the children of her class De Jong’s ministry was described a congregation was sought from Clas- to attend movies. The congregation as “vigorous and active, reaching out sis Pella. On 4 February 1918 Ripon continued to grow but construction of far and wide.” He had a wiry, indefati- was organized with twenty-nine com- a new facility was delayed due to the gable constitution which served him municants as charter members. Two language question. well in covering this geographically men went to Hanford to confer with Hoekenga’s pastorate was followed large parish. He spearheaded much Stuart about calling a minister.13 by that of John De Jong, who had mission activity. During his tenure the As more families joined, by 1919 a been serving in Zillah, Washington. congregation began a radio ministry larger building was needed. Ubels and When De Jong arrived, construction and took on the support of Mission- Bouma were awarded the contract for of the sanctuary had begun. By August ary Jacob Kobes at Toadlena, New $1,151, minus the cost of lamps and 1924 the congregation moved into Mexico. In 1937 a group of families painting. The original church build- their new church facility at Second living in Modesto organized a congre- ing was sold to the Ladies’ Improve- and Orange streets. De Jong was a gation there. It was diffi cult “to say ment Society of Ripon. For a number strong advocate for Christian schools goodbye to the tall, calm, gray-haired of years many newlyweds used the and that fall a Society for Christian man-on-fi re-for-the-Lord” after fi fteen old building for their wedding recep- Instruction was organized. Two years years, but he was showing signs of tions.14 The spring of 1919 saw the later the Society requested the use of physical wear.15 In 1939 he accepted arrival of the congregation’s fi rst the basement room of the church for the pastorate in the small Vancouver,

29 “basement church” became inade- quate. The superstructure was com- pleted with pews and a pipe organ and was dedicated in the fall of 1929. Two events tested the congregation during those early years. Abel Brink, the fi rst Christian Reformed minister in Lynden, in his retirement became a charter member and was elected as an elder in the fi rst consistory and as a delegate to synod in 1930. The church and community were stunned when word came that he had been struck and killed by a car on a Grand Rapids street corner near Calvin Col- lege. He had been a stalwart servant in the birth of the denomination in Lynden and particularly so of the Second Church. In March 1934 the congregation was again stunned when The Second Lynden congregation worshiped in their basement church for almost a decade before the morning service was delayed until the edifi ce was completed in 1929. Photo courtesy of the Archives, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Elder George Ramerman, principal of the Christian School, stepped onto the pulpit announcing he was reading British Columbia, congregation. forwarded to Classis Pacifi c, which a sermon. The delay was caused by Shortly thereafter Joseph J. Steigenga granted the request. the resignation of Muyskens from the arrived as the new pastor of the The Second Christian Reformed ministry. After preaching for nearly church in the community now famous church in Lynden became a reality on twenty years he had lost his faith and for its almond orchards. 27 October 1920 as the fi rst English- left the congregation stunned and speaking Christian Reformed congre- confused.16 Second Church, Lynden, gation west of the Mississippi River. The vacancy had lasted less than Washington Twenty-nine families became charter two months when Watson Groen During the closing months of World members. came from Los Angeles. Early in his War I the requests for English in Property was acquired two blocks ministry a Sunday school was orga- the First Lynden CRC congregation east of First Church. Worship services nized with Mike Vander Griend as the almost reached the level of a demand. and meetings were initially held in fi rst superintendent. Groen was a very Gerrit Hoeksema, a seminarian, was the Christian school. A basement was able pulpiteer and the congregation scheduled during the summer of built and served as the congregation’s grew to 775 members as World War 1918 to conduct an evening worship home for eight years. The fi rst pas- II began. Growth came as families service in English. Following this a tor was Edward Joling, who had just from First church transferred, seeking request was made for an additional graduated from Calvin Theological English services, and many families minister in English-language. As a Seminary. His ministry spanned four arrived from the Great Plains who result, the council held a meeting in and a half years during which the were forced to leave their farms dur- December 1919 to gauge the support membership increased by twenty-fi ve ing the Dust Bowl. Some found Rev. for English-language ministry and families. The Jolings initially lived in Groen austere, but once they knew nineteen families requested that such a rented house until the congregation him personally this opinion van- a congregation be established. The built a parsonage. Two months after ished. He loved to play checkers with council advised these families to pres- Joling’s departure, Derk Muyskens parishioners. All societies valued him ent a formal request for this, which arrived to serve his third congregation as a teacher and he gained a denomi- was done on 27 September 1920; it in the state of Washington. Growth national reputation as an able church- was supported by the council and continued to the point where the man and was elected as president of

30 Volume XXVI • Number 2 • 2008

The young people’s group of Second Lynden CRC, about 1935. Photo courtesy of the Archives, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan. the synods of 1939 and 1940.17 ings, and a variety of presentations by enjoyed fellowship at banquets which The congregation’s Young People’s the young people. Membership was followed a theme and had elaborate Society was a thriving group attract- open to all singles, sixteen or older, decorations that produced a festive ing quite a number of members from even into their thirties.18 Although atmosphere. Outings to various places other churches as well as a sprinkling most young people’s groups of the and even ferry cruises around islands of high school students from the time had the minister as president, in the Strait of Georgia on moonlit community. The format of the meet- not so in Second Church, where presi- nights were among the many social ings, in addition to Groen’s teaching, dents were elected from the ranks.19 activities. o included singing, special music, read- The young people of Second Church

Sources and further reading: Community histories, letters, and diaries. ica: Dutch Immigration to the United States and Minute books held by the respective Congregation fi les, Archives, Calvin College, Canada, 1789-1950 (Ann Arbor: University of churches. Grand Rapids, Michigan. Michigan Press, 1955). Van Reken, Donald L., “Reinder E. Werkman: William Meyer, “Historische Schets van de Oral interviews with original members or the ‘Gilded’ Hollander 1855-1931,” Origins, Wording der Chr. Greg. [sic] Gemeente te descendents of original members of the vol. 16, no. 2 (1998): 17-20. Amsterdam, Idaho,” Jaarboek van de Chris- churches. Yearbooks of the Christian Reformed Church, tilijke Gereformeerde Kerk (Grand Rapids: Periodical clipping fi les for the Lynden, Oak 1895-1940. Eerdmans-Sevensma Co., 1915: 138-140. Harbor, Zillah, and Redlands churches in the Lucas, Henry Stephen, Netherlanders in Amer- Archives, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI.

31 Endnotes 1. For information about Daverman 9. In the eastern United States a disrepair. Recently the building was see: Richard H. Harms, “For the Hum- slough generally refers to a swampy restored and houses a museum honor- blest Worshipper,” Origins, vol. 20, no. or marshy area, while in the western ing war veterans from the Ripon com- 2 (2002): 4-12. United States it refers to an alternate munity. 2. A unique anecdote from the river channel. 15. 50 Years, 1918-1968: First congregation’s early years involves a 10. Sadly, detailed history materi- Christian Reformed Church (Ripon: First visiting pastor and a young girl. During als and mementos gathered by Herman Christian Reformed Church, 1968) [5]. the service the young girl suffering a Meima have been lost. He and his sister 16. He subsequently worked in vari- coughing spell and the minister left the continued living in the family home ous non-ministerial jobs. During his pulpit with his glass of water to offer after their parents died. After Herman last years he suffered much in a battle her a drink. died, Johanna continued caring for the with cancer. During that battle he again 3. P. J. Hoekenga, “Impressions and items. When she went to an assisted found his faith and died in Orange City, Expressions about the North-West,” The care facility, thieves broke into the home Iowa, where he had been born. Banner, 1 May 1913, 279. and ransacked it, and burned all of the 17. The story is told that just before 4. For a detailed review of this historical collection in a stove. a summer afternoon’s worship as the remarkable minister’s life see the two 11. A number of Schaapman’s letters consistory members met for prayer, the articles by Harry Boonstra in Origins, to her friend Williamientje Beltman outside door to the room was open and vol. 23, no. 1 (2005): 22-35. in the Netherlands are printed in the a dog chased a cat across the entrance. 5. “Fiftieth Anniversary of the First Stanislaus Stepping Stones (Fall1986): The immediate reaction from Groen Christian Reformed Church of Los An- 525-529 (quarterly publication of was, “Shall it be dogmatics or catechism geles, California” (1954), available First McHenry Museum and Historical Soci- from the pulpit this afternoon?” Los Angeles Christian Reformed Church ety, Modesto, California). 18. Groen was anticipating the day Collection, Archives, Calvin College, 12. The wedding reception of Ben when the attendance would reach one box 1, folder 7. Meulink and Lucy Schaapman was held hundred. One Sunday evening ninety- 6. Diary of Henry Avink, July 1913, in Meulink’s barn. nine persons were counted. Following p. 28, First Christian Reformed Church, 13. Because of the infl uenza pan- the revelation of the number ninety- Ripon, California. demic that caused millions of deaths, nine, a mouse raced across the basement 7. Minute book of the Afton CRC, they had to wear handkerchiefs over fl oor. The pastor exclaimed, “We have Archives, Calvin College, 1-8. their faces because they hadn’t taken now reached one hundred.” 8. Avink diary, entries from Novem- masks along. 19. The author was elected president ber 1913 through August 1914. 14. Ultimately the building fell into at the age of seventeen.

32 Volume XXVI • Number 2 • 2008

Notes in a Seventeenth-Century Family Bible Anne G. Bousema

uch genealogical informa- information was the death of Grand- Mtion is often recorded in a son Jacobus van Dijck in 1791. After family Bible. In May 1995, while my this the Bible came into possession husband and I exchanged homes of the Vanden Bosch family in Frie- and cars for seven weeks with Roger sland, some distance from Dordrecht and Joyce Vanden Bosch of Zeeland, and Gouda. The Bible was taken to Michigan, we became intrigued with America in 1848 by Tamme Vanden one such Bible. While I was working Bosch, and much later was given to on my family history in Heritage Hall Heritage Hall at Calvin College. at Calvin College, Henk examined The staff of Heritage Hall told old family Bibles donated by descen- Henk that this Bible had belonged to dants of the early immigrants. One of Rev. Koene Tammes Vanden Bosch, these, from the seventeenth century, contained genealogi- cal information about the van Dijk and the Vanden Bosch families; the latter are ances- tors of the family in whose home we were staying. The Bible measures 40 x 27 x 12 cm, with two brass clasps (one original, one replacement), back and front brass corner pieces with boss- es, and an ornamental center boss on the back cover; the front boss is missing. The covers are wood, covered with leather. The front cover was broken and repaired with two brass brackets screwed through the two pieces. The Bible was printed in the Netherlands in 1690 and pur- chased by Jacobus van Dijck, who lived in Dordrecht and Anne G. Bousema (nee Valkema) has recorded his family informa- done family and genealogical research. tion in it, as did children She lives in Hoevelaken (just northeast and grandchildren. The van Cover plate of the van Dijk/Vanden Bosch Bible with its of Amersfort), The Netherlands. Dijcks also lived in Gouda, 1690 printing date. Photo courtesy of the Archives, Calvin and the family’s last recorded College, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

33 Vanden Bosch and van Dijck families are related seemed somewhat plau- sible and piqued my interest. Several years after returning to the Nether- lands, I began doing research on the story of this Bible in the archives of Leeuwarden, Apeldoorn, Assen, Gouda, Dordrecht, Rotterdam, Steen- wijk, Wolvega, and Zwolle.

The van Dijk/van Dijck Families The earliest family information about the van Dijk family is written on the last three pages of the Bible (see side- bar); much of this information is con- fi rmed by records in various archives. I found, for instance, confi rmation of Jacobus van Dijck’s second marriage Entries about the van Dijk family written in old script. Photo courtesy in the archives of Dordrecht, where of the Archives, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan. he is listed under his full name, Jacob Willemse van Dijck, indicating that for several years the only minister in and is linked to the Vanden Bosch his father’s fi rst name was Willem. the Christian Reformed Church, and clan, since Tamme Vanden Bosch’s After publishing an article in the that it had been exhibited in New mother was a van Dijck; the daughter February 2007 issue of Gens Nostra, York in honor of the inauguration of of Susanne van Dijck, born in 1707. the journal of the Dutch Genealogical Queen Juliana of the Netherlands. Sir Anthony van Dijck (also Society, I received additional informa- According to the family story and spelled Dyck) is a well-known Dutch tion. Mr. H. M. Kuypers from Voors- notes written in the Bible, it came painter, who did have a sister Su- choten had evidence that Jacobus from a sister of Sir Anthony van Dijck sanne, so the suggestion that the van Dijck was a son of Willem Dircxz (Vermeulen) from Kralingen. He was married in Kralingen on 1 May 1667 as Jacob Willemsz Vermeulen to Ma- ria Willems, from Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel, as is recorded in the Bible. Maria Willems was a daughter of Willem Jansz Engelsman, also named Diepenhorst. After Maria’s death Jaco- bus married Aaltien Pieter Bonten. Other than the notes written in the Bible, there is no evidence that Jacobus van Dijk was directly related to Anthony van Dijck. Although Anthony van Dijck (1599-1641) did have a sister Susanne, there is no evidence that this sister ever mar- ried. Van Dijck had a daughter, Maria Theresia, born in 1621. Nothing is known about the mother except that she and Van Dijck were not married. The upper portion features van Dijk entries, while the lower portion, in the more modern script, has Vanden Bosch entries. Photo courtesy of the Archives, Calvin In 1632 Charles I invited van Dijck College, Grand Rapids, Michigan. to England to be his court painter.

34 Volume XXVI • Number 2 • 2008

Seven years later van Dijck married was the son of Tamme Molles and offered them housing, until they Mary Ruthven, a lady-in-waiting Lutske Jacobs. The parents of Grietje could obtain their own. For two years to the Queen Henrietta Maria. Van Hanses have not been found. Tamme Tamme worked as a butcher, then Dijck and Ruthven had one daughter, Molles Vanden Bosch married Grietje bought land that he cleared with the Justinianna, born 1 December 1641. Koenen Bont in 1821; she was the three older sons still living at home. Van Dijck died a few days later on daughter of Koene Pieters Bont and Although the fi rst years were diffi cult, 9 December, and was buried in St. Annechien Koenderts Houwer. The with various pests eating crops, and Paul’s Cathedral. Through his will claim that either Tamme’s mother or sickness affecting everyone, thanks he bequeathed his possessions to his grandmother was a van Dijk also is to minister/doctor Cornelius Van sister Susanne, who was responsible contradicted. der Meulen the family survived until for their younger sister Isabella and What can be proved is that by the the second year on the farm, when for his illegitimate daughter Ma- middle 1840s Tamme and Grietjen enough corn was harvested to feed ria Theresia. Susanne and Isabella had become part of the Secession the hog as well as prepare johnnycake became Beguines, lay women who from the Dutch Hervormde Kerk and for the family. neither married nor took permanent were raising a family that included Koene Vanden Bosch completed religious vows but lived communally; ten children—Koene, the oldest, was his theological studies with Frederik they took care of Maria Theresia in twenty-three and married and about A. and Wolter A. Kok. To support the the Antwerp Béguinage. None of to begin studying for the ministry family during this period of theo- these data is recorded in the Bible. when his youngest brother Johannes logical study, Koene’s wife, Marrigje Via his will dated 13 Jul 1785, the was born in 1841. Because of gov- Rook, took in sewing, and he knit Jacobus van Dijk (grandson of the ernment oppression of the Seceders, stockings while looking after the fi rst Jacobus van Dijk) mentioned Tamme talked of emigrating to the sheep and cattle. In 1846 he became in the Bible notes, left his estate to United States, but was reluctant to a lay leader in the small congregation his sister Adriana, who was married leave until his wife became convinced of Elburg, passed his classical exam, to Jan van Ravensbergh. The fact through prayer that emigration was and was ordained as a minister there that the will made no provisions for God’s will. Because he was studying in 1847. Contrary to claims written any other relatives suggests that no for the ministry, Koene decided to into the Bible, he did not attend the children survived from either of van remain in the Netherlands. Theological School (now the Theolo- Dijk’s families. Adriana and Jan van Their 35-day voyage began on 1 gische Universiteit) in Kampen, since Ravensbergh were survived by a son, May 1848, and when they arrived this school was not begun until 1854. but no daughters. in Zeeland, Michigan, Jan Steketee In 1848 he became a minister in As a result, Susana Koenes van Dijk listed in the Bible notes, the mother of Tamme van den Bosch, cannot be a direct descendant of Jaco- bus van Dijk. Consequently, in trac- ing the van Dijk family, no historical evidence could be found to confi rm the Vanden Bosch family story.

The Vanden Bosch Family Tamme Molles Vanden Bosch (1798- 1874) was the third child (fi rst son) of six born to Molle Tammes (1760- 1818) and Grietje Hanses (1767- 1842) in Knijpe, Friesland. They were married 21 June 1789 and the Vanden Bosch surname was added 28 January 1812, when the heads of all Dutch households were required to Vanden Bosch entries from the Bible. Photo courtesy of the Archives, take a family name. Molle Tammes Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

35 Apeldoorn in the district of the Loo, preaching for those rulers. The other Church at Schraalenburgh (now Du- not at the Loo Palace as descendant children, born in the palace, did not mont), churches at Leonia, Midland T. Cornell Vanden Bosch would later remember anything about their life at Park, Paterson, Hackensack and court because they were too young. claim. In 1854 he accepted a call Englewood. Then leaving the East go- ing by water through the Erie Canal, from the Seceder congregation in Our grandfather (Koene) had hun- dreds of sermons which he had Lake Erie and up Lake Huron, after Noordeloos. He wanted to emigrate preached for the kings, one of these a long trip, they came to Mackinac to the United States, but had no sermons was for the coronation of the Island, Michigan where Dr. Koene money for the passage until 1855, King Willem III. Vanden Bosch rested for a while in when a wealthy man from his con- Our great-grandfather was Tamme the summer resort of Astor House. gregation offered him a loan of 1,000 Vanden Bosch and his mother was These travelers then continued by wa- guilders for passage to America for a van Dijck of the famous Dutch ter way to Chicago and from there to Holland, Michigan, where a log cabin the Vanden Bosch family and several painter, Sir Anthony van Dijck. But became their home. The last years of members of his congregation. In late because the van Dijcks were strict Catholics, this background was al- his life Dr. Koene Vanden Bosch spent 1855 he received a call from a group ways kept a secret because my grand- on the shores of Lake Michigan in the of families living three to four miles father being a reformer would not former Astor trading post, where he through the woods north and west of want anyone to know that there were turned his attention to the raising of Zeeland, Michigan. At the time these Catholic forbears [sic] in his family. beautiful fl owers, especially pansies, families were part of the church in Now about our grandmother, her until the day of his death. Zeeland and not an independent con- name was Marie Rooke and she was gregation. Vanden Bosch arrived there a descendent of the distinguished This was the information that Admiral Sir George Rooke, who with in 1856 with twenty-nine members T. Cornell Vanden Bosch as a child Dutch and English armies captured of his congregation in Noordeloos, the Rock of Gibraltar in 1704. He sought to substantiate via library re- the Netherlands. Even though the had brothers Sir William and Sir Lau- search. He had been baptized Tamme group in Noordeloos, Michigan, had rence. (later changed to Thomas Cornell) in not been organized as an independent Sir Laurence was a famous astrologer, 1885, the son of Henry and grand- congregation, Classis Holland accept- musician, and mathematician. Sir son of Rev. Koene Vanden Bosch. T. ed his credentials and approved his George was a soldier of fortune and Cornell studied at Harvard University installation, thereby recognizing the lived for quite a time in Amsterdam and the New England Conservatory and as the story goes he had a Dutch de facto organization of the congrega- of Music in Boston and became an ac- wife while living there. He later had tion. three English wives but of course in complished musician and composer. From these beginnings, it appears England a Dutch wife would not be While in New England, he also set that a complex family lore developed. counted. about learning as much information During my correspondence with Rog- as he could about Sir Anthony van er and Joyce Vanden Bosch about an Referring again to the van Dijck- Dijck. He took the Bible from Michi- English translation they had e-mailed Vanden Bosch Bible, this Bible was from 1848-1856 used by the late Dr. gan while gathering information in me, they provided a copy of a letter [sic] Koene Vanden Bosch when he eastern libraries. Using blue ink, he dated 17 December 1943 from Har- was a minister in the courts of King added the results of his research to riet Vanden Bosch (daughter of Henry William II and III and lived at the his- the genealogical information about Vanden Bosch) to her cousin-in-law, toric palace “Castle Het Loo.” After the two families already listed, writ- Mrs. Martin Vanden Bosch. Included leaving the Dutch court, Dr. Koene ten in black ink. Much of the infor- Vanden Bosch took his family to Paris were the following paragraphs: mation about Sir Anthony is correct, and from there to New York on 8 May 1856, and crossing the Hudson while the family linkages are a differ- Tamme, your father-in-law, being the River came to Englewood where it ent matter. oldest of Koene’s children never had a was quiet, reminding him much of Once he felt he had corroborating robust health and because of that fact the area around the royal palace “Het evidence he began to tell the stories my father, Henry, being the strongest Loo” in Apeldoorn. The famous Bible to others. The New York Herald Tri- and largest, had to run all the errands was used by Dr. Koene Vanden Bosch bune of 26 September 1948 reported for his father Koene, and so he was while as a visitor to these places, and the messenger to the king. He had he was an honored guest speaker in about a display in honor of the recent to take notes to the king, which had these various churches, including inauguration (Dutch monarchs are reference to the church sermons and one at Bank Street, New York City not crowned) of Juliana as Queen of music announcements made when (also possibly churches at Old North) the Netherlands, “North Tarrytown,

36 Volume XXVI • Number 2 • 2008

New York, September 25, an exhibit listed were baptized of historic items including the van in the Hervormde Dijck - Vanden Bosch Bible is being Kerk. held in honor of Queen Juliana of In the newspaper the Netherlands at Phillipse Castle article Vanden Bosch in the Hollow region here. T. Cornell goes on to state Vanden Bosch is owner of this Bible, that his grandfather which was originally owned by the Koene Vanden Bosch sister of Sir Anthony van Dijck, the was a pastor to and Dutch artist. It contains, written in used the Bible in the durable ink, the record of the van Di- courts of Kings Wil- jck family from 1666 to about 1750, liam II and William when it passed in the hands of the III. In fact, Vanden Vanden Bosch family.” Or a decade Bosch was part of later, in a 31 October 1959 article the 1834 Secession in the Grand Haven Tribune “Vanden from the Hervormde Bosch Bible used in Court of Dutch Kerk, the Dutch Kings, Training Area Preachers 100 national church. As Years Ago.” An accompanying photo head of the govern- shows Vanden Bosch holding the ment, William II Bible and reports him saying that it had used his army goes back to the days of Sir Anthony and constabulary van Dijck, famous Dutch artist from to try to suppress whom he is descended. Vanden Bosch the Seceders. It mentions that Sir Anthony had a son was not until the Jacobus born in 1629 to whom he Dutch constitutional wanted to give a large Bible, but he change of 1848 that never did. But some twenty-seven the Seceders were T. Cornell Vanden Bosch with the Bible, from a news clipping relating years after the death of Sir Anthony granted offi cial free- his attempt to demonstrate the validity of the family Bible’s his- a fi re swept St. Paul’s Cathedral in dom to practice their tory. Photo courtesy of the Archives, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, London, England, where Sir Anthony religion. Records Michigan was buried and Jacobus recalled his clearly indicate that father’s wish for a family Bible, so he he did not live at the historic castle, the founders of what is now Calvin went to Utrecht and purchased this but lived in the district of Het Loo in College in Grand Rapids. Instruc- Bible. Vanden Bosch died in 1961 and house number 21, where two of his tion for theological students was fi rst the Bible was donated to Calvin Col- children were born. Further, Dutch given by Wilhelmus Van Leeuwen in lege in 1967. church records are clear that Koene 1863, and then by Douwe J. Vander Vanden Bosch remained in the Neth- Werp, 1864-1875. Geert Boer took Truth or Family Lore? erlands, emigrating from Noordeloos over from Vander Werp and then Although a wonderful family story to the United States in 1856, where carried on as docent of the Theologi- developed about this Bible, the errors records indicate he arrived in early cal School when it was established in in it are several. To begin, Anthony 1856. He was never a minister in 1876. Vanden Bosch’s only recorded van Dijck only had daughters Maria Paris; at best he could have traveled involvement with instruction of theo- Theresia and Justinianna; he had a through Paris when emigrating. But, logical students is that he was one sister, Susanna, but there is no record if he did leave from a French port this of the thirty-eight delegates to the 2 that she married. There is no record would have been Calais or La Harve. February 1876 meeting of the Gen- of a son born to van Dijck or his Going through Paris to either of these eral Assembly that voted to create the sister. Lastly, van Dijck and his sisters ports would have involved a signifi - Theological School, which became were members of the Roman Catholic cant detour to the south. Calvin Theological Seminary and Cal- Church, while the data in the Bible A note in the Bible also claims vin College. made clear that all of the Van Dijks that Koene Vanden Bosch was one of The information about Marie Rook

37 being a descendant of Sir George that Ulcke Sickes and Grietje Lolles, Sources Rooke, likewise is not substantiated the parents-in-law of Adriana van In addition to the sources I cited, I want to by Dutch records. It is clear that Dijk, were married in Joure, Friesland thank Roger and Joyce Vanden Bosch and her parents were of common origin, on 13 January 1689 and that Sickes Mrs. Wendy Blankenspoor, cataloguing archivist in Heritage Hall for their informa- which is supported by the fact that was a barge skipper who traveled tion. Mrs. M. J. Platt-de Kiewit volunteered she had to take in sewing to help sup- between Joure and Dordrecht. Their to search in the archives of Dordrecht for me port the family. fi rst child was born in Joure and the and sent me all the information on Adriana other six in Dordrecht. Perhaps the van Dijck. I used some information on the Vanden Bosch family published by Yntze Conclusions Bible was transported from Dordrecht van der Honing via internet (http://www. According to information in the to Friesland via boat after 1791. carsandtrucks.com/vdbba.html). I’m very Bible, Jacobus Willems van Dijk from I found no relationship between grateful to Mr. H. M. Kuypers, Mr. Y. van Dordrecht bought this Bible between the descendents of Adriana van Dijk der Honing, and Mr. M. O. Koopmans for 1690, when it was published, and from Dordrecht and the Vanden their help. I thank, our dear friend, John H. Dryfhout of New Hampshire, who assisted 1701, when he died. Van Dijk was Bosch clan from the area around by reading and editing this article. not related to the family of Dutch Langezwaag in Friesland. The only painter Sir Anthony van Dijck. After connection appears to be that both Jacobus Willems van Dijk’s death, families had ties to the vicinity of possession of the Bible passed to his Heerenveen, Friesland. Joure is to the oldest son Willem, who died in 1746; east while Langezwaag is just to the then it passed to his son Jacobus van north; the distance between these two Dijck, who died in Gouda in 1791. areas is perhaps nine miles. It seems The latter Jacobus had no children, most plausible that Tamme Vanden so the Bible probably passed in his Bosch purchased the used Bible. The estate to his sister Adriana. After the Bible now contains information about Gens Nostra article I also received two extended families, whose only tie an e-mail from Mr. M. O. Koopmans is that both at different times owned from Grijpskerk, who had evidence the same Bible. o

38 Volume XXVI • Number 2 • 2008

“Dear Father, . . .” Leendert Woudstra translated by Gerrit W. Sheeres

Editor’s note: Leendert [Leonard] Woudstra, an immigrant from the Netherlands, arrived in New York on 2 March 1911. Woudstra (1889– 1954) worked as a cement contractor in Grand Rapids. A year after im- migrating Woudstra wrote his father, Sjerp Woudstra, about life in the new world. Such letters were common, but Woudstra went further, he sent along a postcard album to illustrate the let- ter. In 2007 Woudstra’s grand niece, Akky Sepers-de Boer, sent the album and letter to Heritage Hall. What follows is a sampling of the postcards and Woudstra’s comments, with edito- This is of a beautiful park [John Ball Park] here in the city; there are a number of rial additions in square brackets. such parks; it also shows you how big everything is; . . . there is always music, and they have all kinds off animals.

Gerrit W. Sheeres is a retired pastor who volunteers in the Archives, trans- lating records from Dutch into English. He is a native of the Netherlands. This is a brewery [the Grand Rapids Brewing Company, on Michigan Street].

39 This shows the railroad station [Union Station] where I arrived – we have two railroad stations here.

. . . and then we have the street where we live.

It starts at the big bridge; they plan to demolish this bridge this summer and replace it with a steel bridge. This is the oldest bridge in Grand Rapids.

Then follows another stretch of West Leonard; . . .

40 Volume XXVI • Number 2 • 2008

. . . next is the fi re engine [Station 9 on West Leonard]. The one wagon is drawn by three horses – it is a big machine and it is steam driven and the one [wagon] with the two horses has the ladders.

Next is one of a school.

. . . and the next one is of a church on Leonard Street – although it is not the church we attend; . . .

Then . . . the area of a small sea [Reeds Lake], it is beautiful there in the summertime; [this one] shows the boats.

41 book reviews

In this beautifully bound volume Thus, in the early middle ages, should by Oebele Vries from the University one injure a nobleman, the fi ne would of Groningen, the reader can peruse be twice as much as for wounding a the penalties for an enormously wide freeman. Injury done to a serf would range of transgressions, from adultery incur only half of the amount as that to violence in the church, from tax for a freeman, and half as much again evasion to the neglect of proper dike when involving a slave. Equal rights maintenance, in both modern Frisian for all would not be codifi ed for some and Dutch, with the original text in time to come. the margins. Dr. Vries, an authority Still, women’s rights were remark- in Old Frisian documents, labored on ably well regarded in these early laws. Asega, is het dingtij for seven years, Thus, the value of a woman was and the enthusiastic response from the regarded as equal to that of a man: the Asega: is het dingtijd?: public affi rms that his labors were not fi ne for killing either was the same, De hoogtepunten van de in vain. unlike in other Germanic codes. And The asega was the offi cial law if, for example, a parent wanted to Oudfriese tekstoverlevering advisor of the time, whose task was force his daughter to marry a man Oebele Vries to resolve problems. He informed the against her will, the asega would people of their rights and directed the advise the parent that such action Steven Sterk Leeuwarden-Utrecht 2007. legal proceedings (dingtijd), though violated the rights of the daughter and 536 pages. he himself could not make judgments that he would be penalized, should he € 75.00 or deliver verdicts. If, for example, hurt her for non-compliance. Another a young ruffi an came to him with law protecting the woman goes into the complaint that while fi ghting, very concrete detail: The murder of St. Boniface by a band an opponent had used unfair tactics of drunken Frisian ruffi ans in 754 by pulling his pants down, the asega When a man forces a woman to be- didn’t exactly mark the Frisian people would cite the rule: “If in a fi ght, one come his wife, she should send a mes- as a law-abiding race. Interesting to pulled another by the waistband so as senger to her relatives, who in turn will send a messenger to the count’s know, then, that in fact a very detailed to render it useless, preventing the vic- representative; then the representative Frisian Law Code existed that was tim from coming to the aid of another, must gather the trial proceedings so recorded in the last part of the 8th then the perpetrator shall pay the vic- close to the house of the man that he century, during the reign of Charle- tim two shillings for damages as well can touch the edge of the roof with his magne, known as the Lex Frisionum. as two for the judge.” And that would spear; the representative will then take In its chapters a great many transgres- settle the matter. Or, should someone the woman from the house and subse- quently burn the house to the ground sions are listed, along with the punish- come to the asega complaining that on the authority of the count; the man ment for each, usually in the form of he had been assaulted and thrown to is then held responsible for payments fi nes. These laws applied to all of Fri- the ground, he would be advised that to her, to the judges, and to the count’s sia, which at that time extended well the perpetrator would have to pay the representative. beyond the provincial borders of what penalty of six farthings; however, that we today know as Friesland. As the fi ne would increase to nine farthings if Rapists, too, would be dealt with centuries progressed toward the later it were a woman that had been thrown severely: they would be fi ned nearly Middle Ages, other laws were added, to the ground. as heavily as for murder; and a rapist’s and by the 1400s these were no longer Severity of fi nes would also vary house would be burned to the ground. recorded in Latin but in Old Frisian. according to one’s social station in life. However, we fi nd ourselves wincing

42 Volume XXVI • Number 2 • 2008

at this law that a woman accused of Then the mother may rent or sell the fi fteen signs that will occur before the having been unfaithful to her hus- land of her child because she, as long Day of Judgment, as St. Hieronymus band might be subjected to the “hand as the child is a minor, has the respon- found it recorded in the books of the sibility and the duty to insure that the proof” (putting a hot iron in her hand Jews. child will neither by monarch nor by as a test of God’s judgment). The hus- The value of this book is enhanced hunger come to an untimely end. band could declare her innocent, to by an extremely informative introduc- avoid this. Otherwise, if she incurred tion that sheds light on the context of Vries chose to include all the burns by the hand proof, then the these laws, on the Old Frisian lan- important original Old Frisian texts. husband could reject her, or take her guage, as well as on the Frisian social Most deal with the law codes, but the back. community in medieval times. Help- book also includes chronicles and Today’s reader may also be sur- ful also is a section of explanations legends. Two, in poetic form, record prised to discover the compassionate for each of the twenty-four texts, as the stories of how an alleged uniquely protection accorded to needy children. well as the glossary and subject index. Frisian freedom originated. Whatever The following example is especially But it is especially the inclusion of the facts may have been, freedom for poignant and graphic in its use of two sections, one in the front and one the Frisians came with obligations, as language: in the back of the book that adds a evident in this law: special dimension of aesthetic delight. . . . when a child is naked or homeless Each section features fourteen pages and the dark haze and bitter cold win- This is the law: when a free Frisian of stunning color reproductions of owns land worth thirty pounds, then ter and the long dark night are spread- original pages, some of which were ing out over the surrounding fi elds, he must provide a horse and weapon when each retreats to his hearth and for the defense of the realm. Should written in elegant longhand. home and to its warm corners and the he be unable to do so, then he must Asega, is het dingtijd? will interest wild animal seeks the protection of the pay the count’s representative a fi ne of historical scholars in early cultures, mountains and the hollow tree where two pounds. language, and law, but also the general it can survive. Then the child weeps reader with a lively curiosity of how and cries and laments its naked limbs The last text in the book is the only these early Frisians conducted their and its homelessness and its absent life. father who should protect the child one that deals specifi cally with a bibli- against hunger and the cold of winter cal vision, a rather frightening apoca- but lies buried in the deep dark earth lyptic one that goes back to an early with four nails in the oaken casket. ninth-century source. It announces Henry Baron

43 book reviews, continued

killed while on a trip between Basra America even though in the words of and Kuwait by the Ikhwan, a roaming his son, “Calvinism meant nothing.” Bedouin tribe intent on preserving In other words, to actualize his call- a nomadic way of life which in their ing, monetary support was essential. minds was threatened by radios and Among other abundant vignettes automobiles. about his career are his votes by ab- Medical missionary work in Arabia sentee ballot for Socialist presidential and Oman was a family enterprise. candidate Norman Thomas (1928- Wives and husbands learned and 1948), his Atlantic Monthly article read Arabic, worked as partners and critical of British Middle East policy, endured depression, loneliness, and and his “epoch making” (p. 84) meet- oppressive heat. Self-pity and grum- ing with Abdul Aziz, who, in a sense, bling are not found in this narrative. can be considered the founding father Before Oil: Memories of an Here we have the saga of the mem- of Saudi Arabia. American Missionary Family bers of the Harrison family—Paul, Paul Harrison’s son Timothy, a in the Persian Gulf, 1910- his fi rst wife Regina Rabbe who died graduate of Hope College and Johns tragically in 1930, and his second Hopkins Medical School, has a dis- 1939 wife Anna Monteith Bilkert, whom he tinguished international reputation. Timothy S. Harrison married in 1931. Love for missions A biographical outline of his varied Rumfordbooks, 2008 and a sense of calling shared by this career includes recent appointments family trio are an inspiration for all at the Aga Khan University Medical 125 Miller Avenue, Suite B, Rumford, RI 02916 who long to read a realistic account School in Karachi, Pakistan; and Sur- of missionary day-to-day endeavors geon, the Ministry of Health, Sultan- ISBN: 978-0-9815510-0-5 where few Christians had gone before ate of Oman (1990-1994); added to $19.95, plus $2.50 for postage to heal a sick and economically de- this are years of service at Harvard, prived people. This domestic memoir Yale, the University of Michigan, and Blending nostalgia and realism, is not fi ction. Better than that, it is an Pennsylvania State University College Timothy S. Harrison recalls in vivid authentic account of the actions of of Medicine. detail his childhood years in the intelligent and astute members of a The recollections of young Timo- Middle East and India where he at- close-knit family who, while hoping thy Harrison about bazaars, camel tended grade school. His father, Paul for converts, gained a great apprecia- caravans, pearl fi shermen, day-to day Harrison (1883–1962) was a medical tion for many aspects of the Islamic life in a missionary family, and his missionary in the Persian Gulf, 1910– faith and a traditional way of life experiences while attending school in 1953. Among the elder Harrison’s cherished by the Arabian people. But India bring an intensely human touch missionary cohort s were Dr. Eleanor for the Harrisons and their friends, to this narrative. All readers will, Taylor Calverley, the fi rst woman encountering slavery was more than a with understandable envy, have the doctor in Kuwait, and John Van Ess, mere culture shock; it was the cause privilege to watch and observe life in who labored for forty-seven years as a of much anguish. the Middle East three-quarters of a missionary in Iraq. Also mentioned is To fi nance his mission efforts, century ago. Like opening a time cap- Henry Bilkert, a dedicated evangelist Paul Harrison was willing to identify sule, this book creates for the reader and talented administrator who was with the Dutch Reformed Church in an Islamic and Arabian cultural,

44 Volume XXVI • Number 2 • 2008

economic, religious, and political we read as youngsters nor a modern educational opportunities for those environment virtually unknown in political tract, Timothy Harrison’s in great need who found their home the Modern World. Maps, annotated family memoir details the dedica- on the Arabian Peninsula. This book footnotes, and a generous selection of tion of his own and other missionary is an engrossing tribute to those who contemporary photographs sprinkled families. accepted many challenges and did so through this volume make it a very They were witnesses for Christ with their eyes wide open. readable and historically valuable and served an impoverished people document. Neither the Arabian Nights by providing medical care and Conrad Bult

45 for the future The topics listed below are being researched, and articles about them will appear in future issues of Origins.

“Memories of Cedar Lake, Indiana,” by Rich Iwema “Mission Fests in the Heartland,” by Robert Schoone-Jongen Continuation of “The Dutch on America’s West Coast,” by Howard Spaan “The Dutch Come to the Hacken- sack River Valley,” by Richard Harms The memoir of James Koning, who came from the Netherlands as a teenager, translated by Eltine De Young-Peterse, with Nella Kennedy

Cedar Lake Bible Conference Grounds

Yes, I wish to join the “Friends of the Archives.” Yes, I would also like a gift subscription for:

Name ______Name ______Address ______Address ______

Subscriber $10.00 My Name ______Contributing Member $50.00 Address ______Contributing Sponsor $100.00 ______Contributing Founder $500.00 ______

Send to: Origins, Heritage Hall, Calvin College, Send to: Origins, Heritage Hall, Calvin College, 1855 Knollcrest Circle SE 1855 Knollcrest Circle SE Grand Rapids, MI 49546 Grand Rapids, MI 49546

46 Volume XXVI • Number 2 • 2008

Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Alsum, Loveland, CO Mr. and Mrs. Al Vander Plaats, Blaine, MN contributors Mr. and Mrs. Jay A. Anema, Seattle, WA Dick Van Konynenburg, Hughson, CA John and Maria Bajema, Lowell, MI Mr. and Mrs. Allan J. Van Popering, Grand Rapids, MI James H. and Diane Bloem, Louisville, KY Mr. Adrian Van Sledright, Caledonia, MI Origins is designed to publicize and ad- Ed and Betty Boersma, Visalia, CA Mr. and Mrs. Samuel N. Van Til, Crown Point, IN vance the objectives of the Calvin College John and Sharon Bouma, Holland, MI and Seminary Archives. These goals in- Mr. and Mrs. Max B. Van Wyk, Grand Rapids, MI clude the gathering, organization and study Sid and Virginia Bouma, Visalia, CA Dr. and Mrs. Gene Van Zee, Grand Rapids, MI of historical materials produced by the day- Mr. and Mrs. Conrad J. Bult, Grand Rapids, MI to-day activities of the Christian Reformed Dr. and Mrs. William Venema, Grand Rapids, MI Mr. and Mrs. John Buursma, Holland, MI Church, its institutions, communities and Bill and Pat Waanders, Grand Rapids, MI people. We invite you to support the con- Mr. and Mrs. Will Byker, Hudsonville, MI Will and Dina Wichers, Bradenton, Florida tinued publication of Origins by becoming Dr. and Mrs. James A. De Jong, Grand Rapids, MI “Friends of the Archives.” Mr. and Mrs. Henry I. Witte, Ada, MI Mrs. Robert G. den Dulk, Cannonsburg, MI Mr. and Mrs. Teunis Witte, Byron Center, MI Dr. and Mrs. Jan De Vries, Berkeley, CA Mr. and Mrs. F. A. Wybenga, Tallmadge, OH Enabling Contributor Mr. Dale Dykema, Newport Beach, CA Mr. and Mrs. Jay L. Zandstra, Highland, IN Mr. and Mrs. John Meyer, Palos Park, IL Mr. and Mrs. Mark W. Dykstra, South Holland, IL Mary Zwaanstra, Grand Rapids, MI Mr. and Mrs. Robert Essenburg, Grandville, MI Friends of the Archives John H. and Marcia R. Evenhouse, Westmont, IL Endowment Fund Builders Contributing Members James and Rosemarie Evenhuis, Novi, MI AEGON Insurance Group, Cedar Rapids, IA Walter and Carol Ackerman, Superior, CO David and Constance Fennema, Durham, NC Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth J. Baas, Grand Rapids, MI David and Rene Baatenburg, Jenison, MI Harold and Nancy Gazan, Holland, MI Robert and Jane Baker Foundation, Kalamazoo, MI Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Bajema, Grand Rapids, MI Mr. and Mrs. Lester Hoogland, Zeeland, MI Mr. Duane D. Binns, Oak Park, IL Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth J. Betten, Kalamazoo, MI Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth A. Hoving, Oak Brook, IL Mr. and Mrs. Roger W. Boer, Grand Rapids, MI Mr. and Mrs. Henry Boersma, Marne, MI Rich and Carla Huizenga, Seattle, WA Mr. and Mrs. Richard T. Dykema, Laurel, MD Dr. Harmon S. Boertien, Houston, TX Mr. John Kamp, Holland, MI Dr. and Mrs. Richard H. Harms, Grand Rapids, MI Mr. and Mrs. Arnold S. Boomsma, Schererville, IN Mr. John Kapteyn, Phelpston, ON Holland American Wafer Company, Mr. and Mrs. George W. Boorsma, Kentwood, MI Grand Rapids, MI Mr. and Mrs. Bastian A. Knoppers, Oak Brook, IL Rev. and Mrs. Peter Borgdorff, Kentwood, MI Mr. and Mrs. Peter Huizenga, Oak Brook, IL Mr. and Mrs. Martin LaMaire, Oak Park, IL Mr. and Mrs. Glenn E. Borgman, Pella, IA Dr. William Huizingh, Scottsdale, AZ Arthur and Nellie Lucas, Coopersville, MI Carl and Betty Botting, Ada, MI Estate of Dick and Dena Kortenhoeven, Highland, IN Tom and Greta Newhof, Ada, MI Dr. Emily Brink, Grand Rapids, MI Meijer, Inc., Grand Rapids, MI Mr. and Mrs. William Noordhof, Lacombe, AB Dr. and Mrs. Herman H. Broene, Grand Rapids, MI Mr. Gerald W. Meyering, Denver, CO Chris and Greta Overvoorde, Grand Rapids, MI Connie and Roger Brummel, Holland, MI Drs. Kornelis J. Storm, Aerdenhout, the Netherlands Bill and Evelyn Pastoor, Grand Rapids, MI Ralph and Elaine Bruxvoort, Bloomer, WI Jay and Betty Van Andel Foundation, Mr. and Mrs. Neal Peters, Hudsonville, MI Mr. and Mrs. Conrad D. Bult, Northport, MI Grand Rapids, MI Ms. Tietje Piera, Calgary, AB Jacob and Sandra Bulthuis, La Grange, IL Mr. and Mrs. Claude J. Venema, Jackson, MI David and Pam Reitsema, Englewood, CO Peter and Mildred Buma, Grand Rapids, MI Mr. and Mrs. Gary J. Vermeer, Pella, IA Mr. and Mrs. A. Charles Schaap, Holland, MI Syd and Ethel Cammenga, Caledonia, MI Ms. Kathryn R. Schlamm, Lynden, WA Contributing Founders Calvin D. and Patricia A. Cevaal, Harrisburg, NC Mr. and Mrs. P. John Shooks, Grand Rapids, MI Peters Import Marketplace, Grandville, MI Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Clousing, Shoreline, WA John and Eunice Stegink, Caledonia, MI Mr. and Mrs. Leo Peters, Grand Rapids, MI Mr. and Mrs. Ronald W. Corstange, Hudsonville, MI Dr. and Mrs. Robert P. Swierenga, Holland, MI Clara and Leonard Sweetman, Kentwood, MI Dr. and Mrs. Willis P. De Boer, Grand Rapids, MI Mr. and Mrs. James P. Terborg, Minden, NV Mr. and Mrs. John Zonneveld Sr., Laton, CA Dr. and Mrs. James H. De Borst, Grand Rapids, MI Mr. and Mrs. John C. Vander Haag, Sanborn, IA Robert L. and Frances De Bruin, Mt. Pleasant, MI Contributing Sponsors Ben and Deb Vander Kooi, Luverne, MN Rev. Henry De Mots, Grand Rapids, MI Charles and Gail Alles, Byron Center, MI Mr. and Mrs. George Vander Laan, Grand Rapids, MI Ms. Barbara De Witt, Grand Rapids, MI

47 Henry and Shirley De Witt, Chino, CA Dirk and JoAnn Mellema, Walnut Creek, CA Mrs. Jacob Van Eck, Lansing, IL Mr. Gordon De Young, Grand Rapids, MI Mr. Gerald Meyer, Holland, MI Mr. Lester H. Van Eck, Exton, PA Mr. and Mrs. Henry Docter, Ontario, CA Dr. Ted and Mrs. Tena Minnema, Grand Rapids, MI Rev. and Mrs. Arie Van Eek, Waterdown, ON Jim and Gerry Doezema, Grand Rapids, MI Dr. and Mrs. Richard Mouw, La Canada, CA Dr. Dick and Carol Van Eldik, Gainsville, FL Mrs. Minnie C. Dykstra, Lansing, IL Mr. and Mrs. David Ondersma, Holland, MI Dr. and Mrs. Larry Van Genderen, Jackson, WY Mr. Hendrik Edelman, Milton, NH Mrs. Hilda Ormel, Abbotsford, BC Mr. Art Van Groningen, Ripon, CA Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Engel, Ripon, CA Mr. and Mrs. John V. Pastoor, North Muskegon, MI Dr. and Mrs. Lambert J. Van Poolen, Grand Rapids, MI Phil and Trudy Erffmeyer, Prinsburg, MN Jim and Vonnie Poortenga, Grand Rapids, MI Mr. Carl J. Van’t Hof, Tinley Park, IL Mr. Martin L. Everse, Birmingham, AL Quentin and Harriet Remein, Bethesda, MD Mr. and Mrs. Richard J. Van Tuinen, Longmont, CO Dr. and Mrs. Samuel E. Greydanus, Saugatuck, MI Dr. Frank and Mrs. Doris Roberts, Grand Rapids, MI Dr. and Mrs. Peter D. Van Vliet, Grand Rapids, MI Mr. and Mrs. Samuel E. Greydanus III, Milton, MA Mr. Art Robyn, Visalia, CA Mr. and Mrs. Gerard Vellekoop, Dyer, IN Mrs. Wendlena Groen, Manteca, CA Mr. Albert Scheenstra, Chino Hills, CA Dr. Calvin J. Verbrugge, Racine, WI Carl and Sandy Gronsman, Grand Rapids, MI Al and Mary Scholtens, Caledonia, MI Mr. and Mrs. Arie Verkaik, Hudsonville, MI Dan and Ruth Gronsman, Grand Rapids, MI Mr. and Mrs. William C. Schultze, Grand Rapids, MI Mr. and Mrs. John L. Vinke Sr., South Holland, IL Mr. and Mrs. Andrew J. Haagsma, Grandville, MI Mr. and Mrs. Ben Senneker, Lethbridge, AB Mr. and Mrs. Earl R. Visser, Muskegon, MI Dirk and Gladys Hoek, Modesto, CA Carl and Cora Mae Sinke, Grand Rapids, MI Mr. and Mrs. Ted W. Vliek, Portage, MI Caroline and Henry J. Hoeks, Ada, MI Dr. and Mrs. Richard D. Sjoerdsma, Kenosha, WI Mr. Evert Volkersz, Stony Brook, NY Mr. and Mrs. Gerrit Hoeksema, Jenison, MI Bernard and Melinda Smit, Lafayette, IN Mr. and Mrs. Philip Wassenar, Uxbridge, MA Ms. Grace Anne Hoffa, Kalamazoo, MI Mrs. Juliana Steensma, Holland, MI Mr. and Mrs. Klaas Wielinga, Grand Rapids, MI Mrs. Kathryn Hoitenga, Grand Rapids, MI Dr. and Mrs. John H. Stek, Grand Rapids, MI Dave and Brenda Wiersma, Tucson, AZ Dr. and Mrs. David Holkeboer, Byron Center, MI Henry and Evelyn Stevens, Tucson, AZ Rev. and Mrs. Donald P. Wisse, Wyckoff, NJ Mrs. Leona Holtvluwer, Jenison, MI Dr. Joseph C. Stevens, New Haven, CT Lynda and Johannes Witte, Grand Rapids, MI Dick and Alyce Housekamp, Ada, MI Richard and Joyce Stienstra, Okemos, MI Dr. and Mrs. Burton J. Wolters, Spring Lake, MI Dr. and Mrs. Harvey D. Huiner, Lynchburg, VA Mr. and Mrs. Charles Sybesma, Hanford, CA Mr. Arnold Zandstra, Munster, IN Harold and Esther Huizenga, Grand Rapids, MI Mr. and Mrs. John Teune, Shelbyville, MI David and Cresta Zwart, Sioux Center, IA Dr. C. J. Huizinga, Jenison, MI Dr. and Mrs. Ryan Tolsma, Redlands, CA Mr. Clarence Zylstra, Lynden, WA Fred and Betty Jacobs, Holland, MI Gil and Joanne Van Baren, South Holland, IL Mrs. Mary E. Jellema, Holland, MI Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth J. Van Dellen, Grosse Pointe Park, MI Chaplain and Mrs. Herm Keizer, Caledonia, MI Mr. and Mrs. Richard Vandenakker, Ripon, CA Mr. and Mrs. Hessel Kielstra, Calgary, AB Mr. Hugo M. Van Den Dool, West Hyattsville, MD Mr. John E. King, Wyckoff, NJ Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Vander Ark, Grand Rapids, MI Dr. and Mrs. Simon J. Kistemaker, Oviedo, FL Mr. Albert A. Vander Heide, Lynden, WA Chaplain Louis and Frances Kok, Lynden, WA Mr. and Mrs. William J. Vander Leest, Leduc, AB Mr. and Mrs. Andrew R. Kooistra, Grand Rapids, MI Gary and Janice Vander Meer, DeKalb, IL Rev. John M. V. Koole, Strathroy, ON John and Donna Vander Meer, Grand Rapids, MI Mr. and Mrs. Randall W. Kraker, Grandville, MI Mr. and Mrs. David Vander Ploeg, St. Joseph, MI Lois and Jack Kuipers, Grand Rapids, MI Dr. and Mrs. Gerald L. Vander Wall, Mr. John W. Lamain, Voorthuizen, the Netherlands Grand Haven, MI Mrs. Ardene Lambers, Grand Rapids, MI Dr. Steve J. Van Der Weele, Grand Rapids, MI Mr. and Mrs. Loren J. Lemmen, Lansing, MI Mr. Jan P. Vanderwerf, Mosinee, WI Mr. Pierre R. Lettenga, Conrad, MT Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Van Dokkenburg, Rev. James Lont, Holland, MI West Lafayette, IN Mr. and Mrs. Douglas R. Maddox, Mission Viejo, CA Dr. John E. Van Domelen, College Station, TX

48

The Archives Calvin College and Theological Seminary 1855 Knollcrest Circle SE Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546

The Calvin College and Calvin Theological Seminary Archives contains the historical records of the Christian Reformed Church, its College, its Theological Seminary, and other institutions related to the Reformed tradition in the Netherlands and North America. The Archives also contains a wide range of personal and family manuscripts. Historical Magazine of The Archives Calvin College and Calvin Theological Seminary Volume XXVI • Number 2 • 2008