Volume XXIX • Number 2 • 2011 Historical Magazine of The Archives Calvin College and Calvin Theological Seminary 1855 Knollcrest Circle SE Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546 pagepage 7page 21 (616) 526-6313 Origins is designed to publicize 2 From the Editor 12 Brother Ploeg: A Searching Saint and advance the objectives of or a Burr under the Saddle? 4 Herbert J. Brinks The Archives. These goals Janet Sjaarda Sheeres 1935-2011 include the gathering, 20 “Now I will tell you children . . .” organization, and study of 5 Harmannus “Harry” Westers: historical materials produced by Hendrik De Kruif’s Account Aquaculturist of His Immigration the day-to-day activities of the Harold and Nancy Gazan Christian Reformed Church, Jan Peter Verhave its institutions, communities, and people.

Richard H. Harms Editor Hendrina Van Spronsen Circulation Manager Tracey L. Gebbia Designer H.J. Brinks Harry Boonstra Janet Sheeres Associate Editors James C. Schaap Robert P. Swierenga Contributing Editors

HeuleGordon Inc. ppageage 37 page 40 Printer 27 “When I Was a Kid,” part IV 42 Book Reviews Meindert De Jong, Harry Boonstra and with Judith Hartzell Eunice Vanderlaan Cover photo: 40 Rev. Albertus Christiaan 45 Book Notes Herbert J. Brinks, 1935-2011 Van Raalte 1811–1876 46 For the Future upcoming Origins articles 47 Contributors from the editor . . .

raising of fi sh under controlled condi- your family history that we can share tions to restock commercially over- with others. fi shed waters. Janet Sjaarda Sheeres, a contributing editor, writes of a News from the Archives nineteenth-century immigrant to West During the summer we received the Michigan who had trouble settling in a extensive collection of the papers religious home, while Jan Peter Verhave of Vernon Ehlers, who served as a Time to Renew Your Subscription introduces and translated the account representative in Kent County, ten It is time to remind you, as we do of Hendrik De Kruif’s emigration years in Lansing, and eighteen years in in every fall issue, that it is time to from Zeeland to Zeeland, Michigan. Washington, DC. The papers include renew your subscription to Origins. A We conclude with the last installment legislation that he sponsored, legisla- renewal envelope for this is included of Meindert De Jong’s account of his tion that he actively worked to sup- with this issue. Subscriptions remain youth, written with the aid of Judith port, correspondence, and records of $10 (US) per year. Gifts more than $10 Hartzell a number of years after the au- his service on the House Committees are acknowledged as charitable gifts to thor stopped writing for young people. on Education and Labor, Science and Origins and we are grateful for such Technology, and Subcommittee on En- generosity. Available On-Line ergy and Environment, and the work Thanks to numerous donations, we necessary to be re-elected. This Issue have added a signifi cant number of We organized the papers of Dr. Rod This issue begins with a note about the family histories to our holdings. The Jellema, a poet living in the Washing- founding editor of Origins, Dr. H.J. complete list of those available can be ton, DC, area. An additional ten cubic Brinks, who died last May. Harold and found at http://www.calvin.edu/hh/fam- feet of material was added to our col- Nancy Gazan present the story of Harry ily_history_resources/genealogies_page. lection of Christian school records. We Westers, an immigrant who became a htm. This listing is updated often, so translated and opened for research the leading specialist in aquaculture—the check back often and send us copies of very early twentieth-century letters of

2 Volume XXIX • Number 2 • 2011

Peter Verwolf, a Dutch immigrant in renovation of our space began dur- Theology, China, and the Christian the Dakotas who was incarcerated for a ing the summer. Funds provided by Reformed Church, 1921-1951 (reviewed time. The letters provide a unique view the Hekman Library, Calvin College in this issue). of his life in prison. The research fi les of development staff, and Origins made H. J. Brinks, emeritus professor of his- possible the Phase 1 renovation. The Staff tory and emeritus director of Heritage work will convert fi ve rooms, a closet, Richard Harms is the curator of the Hall, have been organized and are now and a hallway into one large open area Archives and editor of Origins; Hen- open to research. The material details with state-of-the-art environmental con- drina Van Spronsen is offi ce coordina- the Dutch in North America as well trols; allowing us to store more material tor; Wendy Blankespoor is librarian as West Michigan history topics. We within the same footprint. To date the and cataloging archivist; Laurie Haan is processed the business papers of chem- interior walls have been taken down; departmental assistant; Dr. Robert Bolt ist Pierson Boermans which include work is projected to be completed by is fi eld agent and assistant archivist. much on his business ties and personal January 2012. Our volunteers include Rev. Dr. Paul travels in Japan during the 1960s and Bremer, Mrs. Willene De Groot, Mr. 1970s. The personal papers of poet Publications Ed Gerritsen, Mr. Fred Greidanus, Mr. Beth Merizon are now available for re- Through a special arrangement with the Ralph Haan, Mrs. Helen Meulink, Rev. search. Rev. Bartel Huizenga’s work as a publishers we have available a limited Gerrit W. Sheeres, Mrs. Janet Sheeres, home missionary is documented in his number of copies of Famous Frisians and Mr. Ralph Veenstra.D papers, as is Dr. Peter De Boer’s work in in America (2009) for $20.00 (US); history and education. We also received shipping is included. Contact Heritage and processed the research fi les of Dr. Hall if you would like a copy. We also Andrew Barnes, detailing Christian mis- have available copies of Son of Secession sionary work in Nigeria during the fi rst (biography of Douwe Vander Werp) by Richard H. Harms half of the twentieth century. Janet Sjaarda Sheeres, and Kurt Selles’s Lastly, we are pleased to report that A New Way of Belonging: Covenant

3 Herbert J. Brinks, 1935-2011

Richard H. Harms letters in the Netherlands and a 1980-1981 Fulbright- Hays Council for International Exchange of Scholars As I write this it was fi fteen years ago that Herb Brinks grant allowed him to continue this work. Ultimately came to talk to me about applying for the position he had copies of more than 4,000 letters, now in from which he was retiring. I knew him as a published Heritage Hall, most of which were translated into and well-informed historian on the Dutch in North English. Several books by other scholars are based on America. During the next decade and a half I came to the information from these letters. know this plain spoken and honest, some took him to His skill in history was matched by his skill as a be gruff, person well. In addition to being a scholar, writer. He wrote or edited seven books. Among these he was concerned about the world; particularly those are A Michigan Reader (1974), Write Back Soon: Let- people who seem at a disadvantage compared to most. ters from Dutch Immigrants 1847-1920 (1986), and Herb saw potential in people and worked with them Dutch American Voices: Letters from the United States so their potential could bear fruit. He loved to fi sh 1850-1930, published in 1995 by Cornell University and especially to garden. His tomato plants began Press. In addition he published chapters in other growing in the early spring in pots kept in the garage books, journal articles, and entries in reference at night to protect from frost then nurtured so they works such as the Encyclopedia of American Social could bear fruit. His compliments HHistory. were, like his writing, never effusive He was a Dégagé Community but to the point and sincere. CCenter volunteer and in 1991 For a number of years Herb dealt oorganized the Heartside Area Writ- with a blood disease. His condition eers’ Club composed of inner-city changed last year; this spring his rresidents interested in improving health began to deteriorate. When ttheir literary skills. He was an ac- no further medical treatment could ttive supporter of Dwelling Place, help, content, happy, and satis- aan organization making the inner fi ed with his life, Herb chose to ccity a hospitable community for its go home where he died a few days rresidents. He volunteered at God’s later on 17 May. KKitchen, the Westminster Presby- Herb was born in South Hol- tterian Church Food Pantry, and land, Illinois, and graduated from sset about to learn Spanish to assist Illiana Christian High School and WWest Michigan immigrants from then Calvin College in 1957. For CCentral America. the next two years he taught at Al- As important as all this was to lendale Christian School followed HHerb, even more important was by a year at Unity Christian High hhis family. In 1957 he and Ruth School. In 1960 he began gradu- KKortenhoven were married. They ate studies at the University of Michigangan eaearningrning an havehave ffourour chchildren—Timothyildren— and Ruth, Steven and MA in 1961 and a PhD in 1965, both in history. From Gail, Marie and Kurt Hamersma, and John and Ruth; 1962 until 1995 he was on the faculty of Calvin Col- and seven grandchildren, all of whom had a special lege, teaching in the History Department and from place in his heart. When he talked of them his eyes 1983 heading Heritage Hall, which he founded. lit up, even though his voice and tone generally re- He worked tirelessly to add collections to Heritage mained steady and unchanged. Hall to make it possible for others to better under- In the words of his friend and colleague Bert de stand the experience of the Dutch in North America. Vries, “Herb loved and was loved; he lived well; he In 1976 he received a grant from the National En- discerned astutely and critically; he was a blessing to dowment for the Humanities to search for immigrant many, and he departed satisfi ed.”v

4 Volume XXIX • Number 2 • 2011

Harmannus “Harry” Westers: Aquaculturist1 Harold and Nancy Gazan

hough Harmannus (later called Sea, to Luitje and Margaretha Jantina THarry) Westers was born in a (Uitvlugt) Westers. The elder Westers, village on a North Sea island where the principal of the Christian school most of the locals were fi shermen, in Hoorn, and his wife, Margaretha, he did not become a fi sherman; after already had a fi ve-year-old daughter, emigrating to the United States he Jakoba (Koby), and a two-year-old became a pioneering aquaculturist son, Frans (Frank), when Harry was (someone who studies freshwater fi sh born. and other marine life and their envi- Terschelling is a windswept island, ronments). His contributions in this whose west shoreline of dune grass profession led to his 1988 induction and sand appears very similar to west- into the National Fish Culture Hall of ern Michigan’s shoreline. The island Fame; he was the sixteenth person so economy was based on commercial honored, but the fi rst inducted while fi shing, some farming, some tour- still living. ism, and recovering material washed ashore from the numerous shipwrecks Early Life near the island. The Westers family Westers was born 5 April 1930 in worshipped in the Hervormde Kerk of Hoorn on Terschelling, one of the Hoorn, which was built in the middle West Frisian islands in the Wadden of the thirteenth century as St. John’s

Nancy Gazan is a 1957 graduate of Wheaton College with an MA degree from the University of Michigan in 1961. She was a teacher and a home- maker. Harold Gazan is a 1959 gradu- ate of Hope College and received his MSW from the University of Michigan in 1961. He had a 35-year career with the Michigan Department of Social Services as a social worker and held various administrative posts. The Hervormde Kerk (Reformed Church) in Hoorn, looking northward toward the dunes and the North Sea beyond, c.1920. Image courtesy of the Westers family.

5 large numbers of Allied bombers fl ew overhead—British at night and Ameri- can during the day. World War II brought hardship and rationing, as the Germans shipped much of the Dutch agricultural harvests to Germany. About 1944 the Christian school was taken over by the German army, which turned it into a barracks for conscripted Dutch men (between the ages of 16 and 40). These men were guarded by German soldiers and were daily forced to dig ditches. The ominous presence of the German military in the community was a constant threat. As a result, the older Westers chil- The Westers home, 1935-1946, in Bovensmilde, Drenthe. To the right is the school that Luitje dren had to walk to school in Assen, a Westers served as principal. Image courtesy of the Westers family. distance of six miles each way, where classes were held in a church build- (the Baptist) Church with thick brick places to further develop his interest ing. In the winter, if the canal was walls to support the roof. Typical of in nature. The canal, which passed frozen, they skated in a group, pulling old European churches, the edifi ce in front of their home, was used each other along, which enabled them is surrounded by burial plots. The by barges generally pulled by draft to get to school much more quickly building’s thick walls also served as horses. Harry, his brother, and their than by walking.2 shelter during fi erce storms blowing friends fi shed from a wooden rail that The Westers family moved to Am- off the North Sea, and from raiders projected out over the canal. sterdam in 1946 into an apartment on who plundered the island. Harry and Frans In the summer of 1931 Luitje shared the bedroom Westers accepted a position as the on the upper level of principal of the Christian school in the home in Bovens- Haulerwijk, a Frisian village near the milde. During the intersection of the provincial border war they heard Al- with those of Groningen and Drenthe. lied bombers fl ying The family continued to spend sum- overhead at night. mer vacations on Terschelling until The planes took off the German invasion in May 1940. from England, fl ew Harry’s lifelong love for the out-of- to Germany, and then doors, particularly hiking, exploring, returned to England and observing nature, was fostered by just before dawn. On the summers spent on the island. their illegal shortwave In 1935 the family moved from radios, the residents Haulerwijk to Bovensmilde, a small of Bovensmilde fol- town about six miles southwest of As- lowed the events and sen in the province of Drenthe, when progress of the Allied Harry’s father accepted the position Forces with both hope of principal of the Christian school and apprehension. there. The town is surrounded by Once it became appar- heathland where sheep continue to be ent that the German raised today. The surrounding fi elds Luftwaffe no longer Harry Westers, shortly after graduating from college, and two of his and woods provided Harry with many dominated the skies, students in Amsterdam. Image courtesy of the Westers family.

6 Volume XXIX • Number 2 • 2011

da Costa Street, just outside the west- prerequisite to acceptance ern boundary of the old center of the was completion of six city. Harry completed his high school months of actual outdoor education in 1948, and then attended work. Through his Uncle the Hervormde Kweekschool in Am- Harmmanus, Harry was sterdam, a college operated by the put in contact with the Dutch Reformed Church, preparing Meems family who oper- students to become teachers. While in ated a farm in the village college Harry developed an interest in of Onstwedde near the art, especially drawing and painting, Dutch-German border. and also met Johanna (Jolie) Petter. He lived with the Meems They began dating in May 1951 when family for six months both were attending a biology camp during the spring and near Arnhem. Harry was initially summer and entered the reserved, but he enjoyed socializ- forestry school in the fall ing with other students and was not of 1954. While attending above playing practical jokes on his the forestry school, Harry friends. Jolie enjoyed social gatherings proposed marriage to and both enjoyed the out-of-doors. Jolie and upon graduation Soon their friendship developed into emigration to the United romance. States, where he hoped to Both received their degrees in 1952 pursue a career focused on and began their teaching careers; the outdoors. Jolie happily Harry taught in an Amsterdam school accepted both propos- while Jolie taught in Aalsmeer, about als. They were married eight miles outside of Amsterdam. on 16 March 1955 in the Harry and Johanna “Jolie” Petters on their wedding day in Harry discovered that he had a deeply Westerkerk in Amsterdam, Amsterdam, 16 March 1955. Image courtesy of the Westers embedded desire to work in the out- just a few doors from the family. Byl had emigrated to the United States of-doors rather than the confi nes of Anne Frank House. in 1952. Margaret de Groot, who a classroom. Contrary to his father’s Harry and Jolie arrived in New had sponsored Koby and Peter, also wishes, he applied to the Hogere York City by air on 22 December sponsored Harry and Jolie. She lived Bosbouw en Cultuurtechnische School 1955 and moved to Michigan. Harry’s next door to the dairy farm on which (a forestry school) in Arnhem. A oldest sister Koby and husband Peter these two immigrant couples lived and worked as farm hands in Grattan Township, about eighteen miles east of Grand Rapids. In April 1956 Jolie gave birth to Carolina, the fi rst of their ten children. In November of that year Harry’s parents, his brother Frans and his family, sister Roelie and husband Gerard Strieper and their son Egbert, and youngest sister Margaretha ar- rived in New York City on Maasdam. Peter’s parents lived and worked on the same Grattan Township dairy farm. In 1958 Harry and Jolie and their young family moved to the Man- The house near Thompson (west of Manistique), which became a vacation destination after the istique area in Michigan’s Upper family moved to the Lower Peninsula. Image courtesy of the Westers family. Peninsula. Jolie’s sister, Jannie Pet-

7 ter, lent Harry and Jolie the money a paper on the topic at a seminar held Weeks (who later became a partner to purchase a small clapboard farm in Ames, Iowa, Westers described in Westers’s consulting business) house and acreage on a dirt road near how he had arrived at his solution. these aquaculture design formulas US Highway 2, just west of the village “As solids settle and accumulate in and principles are now being used by of Thompson. There, Harry began his raceways, fi sh activity will, from time professionals around the globe. career with the Michigan Department to time, re-suspend [the waste mate- In 1967 Westers was appointed a of Natural Resources (DNR), then rials] into the water column, break- DNR regional fi sh culturist, requiring called the Department of Conserva- ing them down into smaller particles, the family to move again, this time to tion. He worked as an entry-level fi sh which take longer to settle.”3 The Grayling. He played a major role on culturist and spent many hours clean- solution he developed was a series of the team of fi sh biologists responsible ing egg-hatching tanks and hatchery baffl es, dividers made of a thin solid for the introduction of salmon into raceways where maturing fi sh of vary- material, or heavy curtains that were Lake Michigan. Planting of coho and ing sizes were kept. It was then that spaced at distances equal to the width Chinook salmon in the Great Lakes Westers began reading and learning of the raceway and extending above resulted from a series of studies con- about aquaculture and decided that the water level and at the same time ducted by the DNR to improve the this was the specifi c career he wanted leaving a gap of about two inches “sorry state” of Lakes Superior and to pursue. between the bottom edge of the baffl e Michigan, resulting from commer- and the raceway fl oor. As the bulk of cial overfi shing.5 To improve sport Professional Life the water passed through this narrow fi shing, the DNR looked at planting In the summer of 1960 Harry with bottom gap the velocity increased and salmon. Salmon, a predatory fi sh, also his wife and three children moved thereby moved the solids continu- proved to be benefi cial in control- from Thompson to Hastings, Michi- ously down the raceway and through ling dramatic growth of non-native gan, midway between Grand Rapids a screen at the end of the raceway alewife population in Lakes Michigan and Battle Creek, to be a research where the waste material settled into and Huron after the sea lamprey (also assistant at the Hastings Fish Hatch- a “quiescent zone” and a sediment not native to the Great Lakes) had ery. The following year the family, trap.4 The fi sh tended to stay toward reduced the numbers of native preda- now with four children, moved to the top of the water, so they were not tory fi sh. Whitmore Lake, about twelve miles moved from one section to the next With federal and state monies, a north of Ann Arbor, and Westers by the water fl ow. new $3 million hatchery was con- began graduate studies in fi sh biology The design was soon employed structed on the Platte River south- at the University of Michigan, from in all the DNR hatcheries. Westers west of Traverse City. The Platte River which he received a Master of Science continued to refi ne the engineering location was selected because the degree in 1963. principles, and developed various river allowed salmon returning from Upon completion of his studies mathematical he was promoted to manager at the formulas which state’s Wolf Lake Fish Hatchery, about he and other ten miles west of Kalamazoo, which aquacultur- required the family to move once ists used in again. It was while he was hatchery designing new manager at Wolf Lake that he began hatcheries. to study the problem of waste dispos- Today the use of al from fi sh raceways, concrete chan- baffl es has been nels with continuously fl owing water adapted by both used for high density fi sh production. governmental The fl ow down a raceway kept the and commer- water aerated for the fi sh, and waste cial hatcheries settled to the bottom. But the motion throughout from the high concentration of fi sh North America in the raceways created enough water and Europe; turbulence to re-suspend some of the and accord- A concrete raceway at the Harrietta Hatchery, showing a series of baffl es. waste. Years later, when he presented ing to Chris Image courtesy of the Westers family.

8 Volume XXIX • Number 2 • 2011

Lake Michigan for spawning runs to Through testing Westers and his in encouraging fi sheries personnel come right to the hatchery. Salmon colleagues discovered that even very to take a scientifi c approach. Many from the hatchery were also planted low levels of nitrogen gas in the water fi sh culturists related Harry Westers in a number of other streams and could have harmful effects on the to bioengineering and he is known rivers in the Great Lakes watershed. production of small fi sh species. Con- worldwide for his hatchery expertise. Coho salmon eggs were obtained sequently, he developed the concept He is active in professional fi sheries from the Pacifi c Northwest. About 8 and worked with bio-engineers who organizations and is a past president percent of the fi rst million fi sh plant- designed a system to inject pure oxy- of the Fish Culture Section.10 ed survived to return to the streams gen into the raceways thereby enrich- in which they had been placed, meet- ing the water. This concept became Retirement ing the desired goals of the Fisheries known as the Michigan Column and Westers retired from the DNR in Division; a survival rate generally is now used throughout the world.8 April of 1992 after a 34-year career. considered to be very high.6 In Lake Westers’s contributions to the fi eld Shortly afterward he established his Michigan, coho, feeding mostly on of aquaculture are considerable. It is own consulting fi rm, Aquaculture alewives, grew from one ounce to ten because of his contributions to the Bioengineering Corporation. The US pounds in seventeen months. science that the National Fish Cul- Department of Agriculture (USDA), In 1973 Westers was promoted to ture Hall of Fame located in a replica state governments, the Pequot Hatch- technical manager of hatchery op- 1899 Ice House at the D. C. Booth ery at the Pequot Indian Reservation erations of the Fisheries Division of Historic National Fish Hatchery, in Connecticut, and many private DNR. He ultimately moved his fam- “one of the fi rst fi sh hatcheries in the engineering fi rms hired him for his ily to Rives Junction, a town about United States.”9 In 1988 Westers was expertise in fi sh hatchery design. He twenty-fi ve miles south of Lansing. inducted into the Hall of Fame; the presented numerous papers docu- In 1984 he was appointed the DNR’s sixteenth person so honored and the menting his research fi ndings and chief of hatchery operations (now fi rst to be honored while still living. suggesting cutting-edge technologies known as fi sh production manager), The following is from the citation for improving aquaculture in the a position he held until he retired presented to him. United States and Europe. from the DNR in 1992. Harmannus “Harry” Westers start- In 1996 Christopher Weeks joined In 1979 he wrote “Principles of ed his fi sh culture career in 1958 after this consulting business. Weeks had Intensive Fish Culture: A Manual for his immigration from the Netherlands a background in engineering, and Michigan’s State Fish Hatcheries,” to the USA in 1955. He has become Westers mentored him in aquacul- a 105-page document outlining the one of the nation’s leaders in the ture. Weeks continued his education goals and production theories which development and transformation of at Michigan State University, earning became the operational guide to the fi sh culture from an art into a science. a doctorate in Fisheries and Wildlife management of the state’s several His unique ideas and concepts helped in 2007, and is currently on staff at hatcheries. For example, Michigan develop many useful formulas neces- the USDA-sponsored North Cen- hatcheries chose to use groundwa- sary to the modern hatchery world. tral Aquaculture Center as a liaison ter sources wherever practical. This Among them are formulas to deter- specialist for the twelve states that permitted specifi c pathogen-free mine hatchery production, including comprise the region. Weeks says of rearing, stable water temperatures, oxygen consumption and ammonia his mentor, “I have never met an and consistent water chemistry. All production rates. Harry Westers also individual that was so universally of these factors are important for developed hatchery design concept liked and so widely admired as a pro- reducing mortality rates. However, formulas for fl ow rates, rearing densi- fessional. He was held in such high most groundwater sources are high ties, loading capacities, aeration and regard by his colleagues in his chosen in nitrogen gas and low in dissolved degassing columns. He has refi ned profession.”11 oxygen levels, which is not well-suit- the concept of baffl es in fl ow-through His concern for the environment ed to fi sh production. To compensate rearing units as a means to manage and his love for the out-of-doors for this, large hatcheries used large solid waste. In addition, he developed increased each year. He urged his amounts of groundwater. Standard formulas for fi sh feeding levels based fellow professionals to be sensitive to aeration techniques at the time could on metabolic rates and tempera- the need for aquaculture waste reduc- add oxygen to the water, but were not ture unit (TU) growth rates. Harry tion, predicting that the continued very effi cient at removing nitrogen.7 Westers has been a staunch leader and rapid expansion of aquaculture

9 a second time built a house. The fam- ily moved into the partially fi nished house in 1974. On 29 December 1981 Jolie deliv- ered twin boys, a signifi cant event in the life of any family, but particularly for the Westers family, given the age of the parents, for which they re- ceived attention in local newspapers and national television. The following from the Jackson Citizen Patriot, the local newspaper, explains the reason:

After her eighth child had outgrown his baby clothes, Jolie Westers put them in a box for the taking. Her married children quickly grabbed them up for the fi ve grandchildren that came along. Now Mrs. Westers is hoping to trade back. At age 50, she Harry and Jolie (center back) with their ten children in 1996. Image courtesy of the Westers family. delivered twin boys on Tuesday. . . . They are the 9th and 10th children of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Westers of Rives in the United States would heighten to complete, but his energy seemed Junction. The Westers’ other children 13 the need for the application of to be endless. When a promotion range in age from 25 to 9. scientifi c feeding and waste manage- in 1973 meant a move to Lansing, ment principles. In a presentation at he purchased ten acres of farm land Each spring Harry planted a very Aquaculture Expo VIII in June 1995 in Rives Junction, between Lansing large vegetable garden—his avoca- at Washington, DC, he noted the and Jackson. He planned for a place tion. On warm summer evenings he positive experiences of Scandinavian where his children and grandchildren could be found weeding, often wear- countries which use environmentally would be able to explore the wonders ing his Dutch wooden shoes. He later friendly aquaculture practices that re- of nature. While the rest of the family purchased several additional adjoin- duce feed waste and increase digest- remained in Grayling, he moved into ing acres and developed a large pond ibility of diet ingredients. Through a small trailer on the property and for into which he introduced fi sh. Several his research he documented feed and waste relationship and developed for- mulas for improving feeding strate- gies and thereby reducing wastes.12

Family The Westers family spent summer vacations at their former home, the old clapboard house west of Man- istique. The children spent many hours in a tree house at the edge of the woods bordering a meadow, and at dusk everyone played hide and seek in the yard. When the family moved to Grayling in 1967, Westers built their home, located on a lot just a block away from the fi sh hatchery. Westers, during a visit back to the island of Terschelling in 1987. Image courtesy of the Westers This project took more than a year family.

10 Volume XXIX • Number 2 • 2011

of the children purchased or built homes in the area; and the grandchil- Endnotes dren spent many hours swimming, 1. The authors express appreciation 8. Harold Gazan interview with Dr. fi shing, or boating on the large pond. to the Westers family members and to Christopher Weeks, 26 January 2011; Dr. Christopher Weeks for their coop- also see: H. Westers, V. Bennett, and J. The Westers home became a frequent eration and assistance in this project. Copeland, “Michigan’s Experience with site for family activities, including 2. Information on the family’s early Supplemental Oxygen in Salmonid Rear- picnics and games. history comes from an interview with ing,” 1987, or H. Westers, G. Boersen, Westers was a man of deep and Reolie Westers Strieper. and V. Bennett, “Design and Operation 3. H. Westers, “Best Management of Sealed Columns to Remove Nitrogen genuine faith, planted and nurtured Practices for Raceway Culture Systems,” and Add Oxygen,” in Proceedings of the in him by the Dutch Reformed Proceedings: Aquaculture Affl uents, Fisheries Bioengineering Symposium, Church, which shaped his character sponsored by North Central Regional American Fisheries Symposium Series, and informed his values, giving him Aquaculture Center, USDA, Ames, Iowa, Number 8.” 9 October 2003, 84. 9. See www.fi shculturesection.org/ a keenly felt respect for the historic 4. Ibid. Hall_of_fame visited 26 January 2011. Christian faith. As he matured, his 5. Harry Westers and Thomas M. 10. Ibid. inquiring mind caused him to raise Stauffer, “A History of Fish Culture in 11. Weeks interview. questions particularly about the Michigan,” Michigan Fisheries: Centen- 12. Harry Westers, “Feed and Feed- nial Report 1873-1973 (Lansing, MI: ing Strategies to Reduce Aquaculture relationship between science and Department of Natural Resources Publi- Waste.” Aquacultural Engineering and faith. This process of inquiry did not cation, 1974) 123. Waste Management: Proceedings from challenge his core values. He came to 6. Ibid,123-124 the Aquaculture Expo VIII, 24-28 June reconcile his understanding of nature 7. Harry Westers, “The Use of Pure 1995, Washington, DC, published by Oxygen to Remove Nitrogen Gas and the Northeast Regional Agricultural and the universe by accepting a less Oxygenate Fish Culture Rearing Water,” Engineering Service, Ithaca, NY, 1996, literal hermeneutical understanding in N. De Pauw, E. Jaspers, H. Ackefors, 365-366. of Genesis. He was not one to display N. Wilkens, eds., Aquaculture: A Bio- 13. Denise B. Cavins, “Motherhood emotion or to engage in argumenta- technology in Progress (Breda, Belgium: at 50 and twins at that!” Jackson Citizen tion. Rather, he studied theology and European Aquaculture Society, 1989). Patriot, 31 January 1982, Section B. philosophy to determine the deeper meaning of God’s truth as revealed in Scripture and in nature. During the last years of his retire- ment, in addition to gardening he found time to rediscover his avoca- tion of painting. He painted well over a hundred pictures which he gave as gifts to many of his family members and close friends. His life’s journey that began on the beautiful and distant island of Ter- schelling ended on 28 October 2008, in the beautiful countryside near Rives Junction, the result of cancer. During his life he published more than thirty professional papers con- tributing to the fi eld of aquaculture. He was a frequent presenter at na- tional and international conferences. At the time of his death, he was in the process of co-writing with Weeks a comprehensive textbook titled “Prin- ciples of Intensive Fish Culture.”o

11 Brother Ploeg: A Searching Saint or a Burr under the Saddle? Janet Sjaarda Sheeres

The Dutch Years What a spiritual high it must have examined and approved to serve as been for forty-year-old Benjamin H. an ordained minister. Less than two Ploeg to meet and to shake hands decades later Ploeg and Van Raalte with those noted fellow secessionists would differ on church matters, but gathered in one room for the very for now there was fraternal goodwill fi rst synod of the Christian Seceder all around. Church that early March day of In September 1837 Ploeg and the 1836 in Amsterdam.1 Here he sat, an church leaders—de Cock, Scholte, ordinary grocer and shoemaker, at Brummelkamp, van Velzen, Van the same table with such prominent Raalte, and Meerburg—gathered people as Rev. Hendrik P. Scholte, again as a synod. There were others Rev. Hendrik de Cock, Rev. George F. at this synod as well—F. A. Kok, the Gezelle Meerburg, and other leading noted teacher, and Elder Derk Druk- Seceder elders from various provinces ker, whose son and grandson would in the Netherlands.2 Shortly after the become ministers in the Christian meeting had begun, two more not- Reformed Church in North America ables arrived to take their seats—Rev. (CRC), and Cornelius Vander Meulen Anthony Brummelkamp from Gelder- and Jannes Vande Luyster, both elders land, and Rev. Simon van Velzen from from the province of Zeeland. As a Friesland. And still later candidate delegate to the 1840 Synod, Ploeg Albertus C. Van Raalte arrived to be met Gijsbertus Haan from Hilversum.

Janet Sjaarda Sheeres is a historian, genealogist, and author, whose most recent book is Son of Succession. A contributing editor to Origins, she is currently researching the Dutch that settled in Amelia County, Virginia (west of Richmond), in the late 1860s. Benjamin Ploeg was a member of the Reformed Church in Klundert, the Netherlands, when he joined the religious secession that began in 1834. Image courtesy of the Archives, Calvin College.

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6,500 words.4 In them he described in church and assumed that now he was detail the shortcomings of the Dutch no longer a member of said church. Reformed Church and its hierarchy. This action had severe repercussions. He also related his own mistreatment In a letter to the Minister of Worship, for leading the Secession movement Jacobus D. Janssen, dated 30 Novem- in the province of Noord Brabant. ber 1835, Rev. A. T. Beausar, minister But it wasn’t just the Dutch Re- of the Dutch Reformed Church in formed Church, or the civil authori- Klundert, reports, “Yesterday morn- ties that were the windmills at which ing after church in the council room, he tilted. In succeeding years his we were handed a letter which was passion for doctrinal purity would said to be from Benjamin H. Ploeg. I cause him to clash again and again immediately realized it might contain with church authorities. Ploeg’s name a statement of separation from the Rev. Anthony Brummelkamp, comes up so frequently in the min- Reformed Church, and did not want 1811-1888, one of the ministers utes of the churches he attended and to accept the letter. Still, two members in the seceding churches and later served as offi ce bearer that it is worth of the council, elders, stated that we professor of their theological school taking a closer look at this man. had to open the letter and deal with (now Theological University of the Reformed Churches) in Kampen. it. I left the meeting, but after the Image courtesy of the Archives, Calvin Background afternoon service another elder told College Born early in 1794 in Vught, Noord me what was in the letter; it was as I Brabant, the son of Hendrik Ploeg, a suspected, they had separated them- The province of Noord Brabant was shoemaker, and Johanna Boon, a mid- selves from our church.” The minister not represented at the 1843 and 1846 wife, Benjamin was baptized on 23 then asked for advice on how to deal synods, but in 1849 and 1851 Ploeg February 1794 in the Kruiskerk in ‘s- with these people, and to keep the let- was again a synodical delegate. At the Hertogenbosch. During his childhood ter in the strictest confi dence. 1851 assembly he met Revs. Koene the family moved to Klundert, Noord Van Den Bosch, Willem Frieling, Brabant, where he married Huijbertje Secession in Klundert and Douwe Vander Werp, all men he Littooij on 22 July 1820. Offi cially the Two months later, on 31 Decem- would meet again, and sometimes Ploegs belonged to the Dutch Re- ber 1835 at Ploeg’s invitation, Rev. clash with, in the new world. formed Church but were also mem- Gezelle Meerburg came to Klundert to It is fair to say then that Ploeg bers of a conventicle that had formed organize the Seceders formally into a knew the Christian Seceder Church, in Klundert in the early 1800s.5 By congregation, baptize little Benjamin, its leaders, its decisions, and its 1835 Benjamin and Huijbertje had six Jr., and install Ploeg as elder. Since struggles from the very fi rst. He was children.6 It was the baptism of their Ploeg had allowed the meetings to be also well versed in its theology; he last child born 31 October 1835 that held on his property, he could expect subscribed to De Reformatie, the organ especially gave Ploeg cause to refl ect. to be fi ned.7 But his run-in with the of the newly formed denomination, Like so many at the time, he won- law arose over an entirely different the Handwijzer, and De Vereeniging.3 dered if he could sincerely answer the issue. In 1836 the Dutch Reformed He owned all of Hendrik Scholte’s question in the baptismal form, “Do Church in Klundert assessed its mem- publications and could readily quote you believe that the true doctrines bers 2.50 guilders each for repairs. the revered Reformed authors of old. of the Old and New Testaments are Ploeg refused to pay stating that, since In short, Brother Ploeg was well ac- preached in this church?” Ploeg be- he had resigned his membership the quainted, well versed, and well read. lieved he could not answer this ques- previous November, he was no longer When in 1852 Helenius de Cock, tion in the affi rmative and decided to a member of the church. In his letter son of the late Rev. Hendrik de Cock, withdraw his membership from the to Helenius de Cock, Ploeg wrote intending to write a biography of his Dutch Reformed Church. On 28 No- that the minister and council stated father, placed an advertisement in De vember 1835 he formulated a letter of to have no knowledge of his “letter Stem inviting people to share with resignation which he called an “Act of of secession,” and since he had no him their recollections about the early Secession.” It was signed by him and witnesses when he delivered it to a days of the Secession, Ploeg respond- eleven others. He personally handed council member, he could not back ed with two letters totaling nearly this letter to a council member of his up his claim of having resigned.

13 The matter went to the civil courts, which ordered Ploeg to pay. Ploeg re- fused. On 5 October the bailiff came, inventoried all of Ploeg’s household and store goods and held a public auction on 15 October. It is clear that Ploeg, because of his leading role in the Secession movement, was framed. Rev. A. T. Beausar’s letter to Jans- sen, acknowledging the existence of Advertisement from De Hollander (Holland, Michigan), 23 June 1858. 8 Translation of the text reads, “B. H. Ploeg, makes and repairs boots, shoes, Ploeg’s letter, was not made public. slippers, etc., at a very reasonable price. He promises reliable work and seeks There were at least six council mem- his fellow citizens as customers. Workshop across from Mr. Polsma.” bers plus the minister who knew of the existence of the letter; yet none ture, Ploeg sold his home for 600 to de Cock, Ploeg admitted that most came to his defense. guilders, enough for travel expenses people considered him stubborn. Thus, when Ploeg attended the and start-up costs in Holland, Michi- Nevertheless, in Pillar Church these various Seceder synods he could gan, where Ploeg continued his shoe- failings were put aside (perhaps due testify that he too had suffered for the maker trade.10 to his personal relationship with Van sake of Christ. And Ploeg remained Raalte) and Ploeg was elected elder. undaunted. He converted an empty In the RCA Immediately upon his election he building he owned next to his house Once in America, Ploeg and Huibertje was chosen as delegate to the April on Oostervoor Street to accommodate and three adult children joined Pillar 1856 Holland Classis meeting. There Seceder worship services. On 10 No- Church, where A.C. Van Raalte was he was reunited with Hendrik Klijn, vember 1839, from early morning to the pastor. The following January, Cornelis Vander Meulen, Jannes late evening, Gezelle Meerburg held only six months after his arrival, he Vande Luyster, and met new brothers services in Ploeg’s building.9 was nominated for the offi ce of elder. in the faith. Perhaps because of these In spite of Ploeg’s courage, the au- Apparently some who had known people, whom Ploeg had known and thorities, hoping to deter people from Ploeg in Klundert recalled his charac- trusted before coming to America, joining Ploeg’s group by prosecuting ter and voiced their objections.11 Was and perhaps because his compatriots him, succeeded. Many in Klundert his erstwhile stalwartness perhaps from Klundert were fully engaged who might otherwise have joined laced with stubbornness? In his letter with the Reformed Church in America the movement decided the price was too high. The growth in membership Ploeg had hoped and prayed for did not materialize.

Emigration Ploeg’s disappointment in the growth of “the truth” in Klundert, as well as his belief that God’s wrath would be poured out over the Netherlands, may have been the impetus which drove the 61-year-old shoemaker to emigrate to the United States in 1855. His involvement with the Seceders in Klundert had cost him many custom- ers, and his fi nances by 1855 were tenuous at best. His daughter and her husband had emigrated in 1854 and settled in West Michigan. In January Ploeg was a member of the oldest Reformed congregation in Holland, Michigan, which built this 1855, four months before his depar- Greek revival edifi ce in 1856. Image courtesy of the Archives, Calvin College.

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Ploeg had no part in this secession. the city. This group included men like His beloved wife Huibertje passed Abraham Krabshuis and Johannes away in November 1857, and perhaps Hellenthal, vocal critics of Van Raalte he had been too busy caring for her. and “errors” in the RCA. Until the fall of 1859, he continued to By April 1860, Ploeg, using his serve as elder at Pillar Church. former relationship with the Seceder However, fi ssures begin to appear leaders in the Netherlands, tried to af- in his relationship with Pillar Church. fect a union between the CRC and the At the September 1859 council meet- Seceder Church in the Netherlands. ing Ploeg, stating he was not well, In a letter dated 23 April 1860 Rev. K. asked to be considered a rustend or Van Den Bosch wrote: retired elder. This request was not granted. In one of his later articles More and more eyes are opened. Elder in De Hollander Ploeg wrote that he B. H. Ploeg, known by many in the Netherlands, has declined the offi ce Gijsbert Haan, 1801-1874, a considered the two-year term for elder contemporary of Ploeg, was also a of elder in the congregation of [Pil- unbiblical—once an elder always an lar] Holland and he openly protests lay leader in the Secession before elder; if others are elected, you then he immigrated to the United States. among the people, and in the De Like Ploeg, he joined the Reformed became a rustend or retired elder as Hollander. . . . Elder B. H. Ploeg feels Church in America, then the Christian opposed to an active elder.16 One the need to present our need to the Reformed Church (CRC) in 1857 and, other factor that may also have infl u- [Dutch] Synod again, that the way like Ploeg, later left the CRC. Image enced Ploeg’s adversarial attitude to- may be opened to obtain an orthodox Courtesy of the Archives, Calvin ward the RCA was its refusal to accept minister in the seceded congregation College. of Graafschap. Many in [the city of] his son’s application for membership. Holland are separating themselves (RCA), he did not join the Seces- On 21 January 1859, 24-year-old Ben- into a fellowship, and look to the con- sion faction at that time even though, jamin, Jr., a tailor, came to the council gregation of Graafschap with the hope at that particular classis meeting, of the Pillar Church to make profes- that one day a permanent minister Gijsbertus Haan made accusations sion of faith. Fortunately for both fa- may be found.19 against the RCA.12 At the August 1856 ther and son, the elder Ploeg was not classis meeting Ploeg, only one year in attendance at this meeting. After From April to November 1860 De in this country, was elected to repre- questioning him, young Benjamin was Hollander printed nearly a dozen ar- sent Holland Classis at the Particular told that he needed to prepare himself ticles by Ploeg in which he set out to Synod for the West in Chicago. To be better and return sometime in the answer his critics and the failings of elected delegate after only one year future. The council made a notation the RCA. Hymns and Sabbath school in America indicates his ability to im- in the minutes that there was so much booklets were especially singled out press others with his knowledge and uncertainty and confusion in his as being unscriptural. This did not go leadership qualities. However, this thinking that the council did not have unnoticed by the Pillar Church coun- honor brought him great frustration. the freedom to admit him as a mem- cil. Their minutes of the 14 Decem- Several years later, in an article in De ber.17 It must have been a disappoint- ber 1860 meeting relate a visit by a Hollander, he wrote, “Not knowing ment and almost an embarrassment committee to Brother Ploeg regarding English, I sat there as a deaf mute, for a father who was so well read and his negligence in attending worship only able to look around myself.”13 versed to have his son rejected for services. Ploeg declared to have issues This experience convinced him that lacking knowledge of the Reformed with the congregation, the council, the RCA had conformed to American faith.18 and the pastor; and that he could no ways by, among other things, not When his term as elder expired at longer worship in the church. When retaining the Dutch language.14 He Pillar a dramatic shift took place in the committee tried to counter the didn’t explain why he expected that Ploeg’s demeanor. Early in 1860, the charges, an irate Ploeg stated that he the RCA, English speaking since the once tenacious warrior for the truth wanted nothing more to do with the 1770s, save for a few ministers, would seemed shaken awake to contend church. conduct church matters in Dutch. against doctrinal errors. Instead of In April 1857 four churches split worshiping at Pillar, he began meet- In the CRC from the RCA, forming the CRC.15 ing with a group of CRC people in The small group of dissidents living

15 in the city of Holland belonged to the bly held in Graafschap on 4 February Graafschap congregation that had left 1863. His arguments were not accept- the RCA. The walk to Graafschap, ed and he was publicly instructed to several miles south of the city, each be quiet because, “Brother Ploeg is too Sunday was too far, so Graafschap vehement in his speaking, and because supported this group by having their he uses improper words” (Art. 4). own elders lead their worship servic- Apparently frustrated, he decided to es. By accepting these people as mem- discontinue worshiping at Graafschap. bers (including Ploeg), Graafschap At their 16 October 1863 meeting, the apparently had not complied with the Graafschap council censured Ploeg for compulsory membership rites, which neglecting worship services. This odd required that those wishing to join situation of censuring a non-member had to undergo a rigorous examina- would bring problems later. tion, have their names announced to the congregation on three consecu- In the Presbyterian Church tive Sundays, and then, if there were With the RCA and the CRC found no objections against them, formally wanting, it seemed that true doc- confi rm them in a public worship Koene Van Den Bosch, 1818-1897, a trine might be found in the bosom service.20 This oversight came to the Seceder minster from the Netherlands, of the Old School (OS) Presbyterian attention of the CRC Classical Assem- was the fi rst minister in the Church.24 An OS Presbyterian congre- Christian Reformed Church, serving bly of 5 April 1861 (Art. 14), when congregations in Noordeloos, Zeeland, gation consisting of all Dutch emi- Rev. Koene Van Den Bosch accused Grand Haven (all in Michigan), grants had been organized in Zeeland, the church council of Graafschap of and Chicago. Image courtesy of the Michigan, in March 1863.25 Perhaps having accepted the members from Archives, Calvin College. tired of wrangling with Van Den “the city of Holland” unlawfully.21 Bosch and the Graafschap council, He claimed that therefore he could 1618-1619 [Synod of Dordt] by allow- Ploeg began attending this fellow- not acknowledge them as full mem- ing feast days and, even worse, had al- ship. He held off, however, becom- bers nor baptize their children. It lowed civil authorities to infl uence the ing a member of the Presbyterians, was decided that Rev. Van Den Bosch church.22 This was discussed at length hoping that Rev. Douwe J. Vander and council members of Graafschap and it was decided to visit Ploeg Werp, who was expected in Graaf- should go to Holland and examine again. The Graafschap council min- schap that fall, would adjudicate the these people and, after having found utes of 14 December 1861 note that, Graafschap membership matter in his them acceptable, Rev. Van Den Bosch “Brother Ploeg does not want to give favor. When Vander Werp arrived in would install them and baptize their offense and will voluntarily abstain Graafschap in October 1864, one of children. from communion.” Ploeg’s refusal to the fi rst tasks he set for himself was to What should have been a simple be confi rmed was discussed again at visit those Graafschap members who formality became a protracted battle the 27 January 1862 meeting, noting had neglected worship services. He of wills between Van Den Bosch and that Ploeg took issue with Articles 27 and an elder visited Ploeg in Novem- Ploeg, when the latter, in a heated (term of offi ce for elders and deacons), ber and reported on their visits at argument, refused to make the correct 37 (election of council members), and the Graafschap council meeting of 9 confession. At the following Graaf- 67 (feast days) of the Church Order of December 1864. However, as Ploeg schap council meeting on 5 November Dordt. Several council members voted stated later, Vander Werp did not 1861, Van Den Bosch brought a com- to keep Ploeg as a member, allowing want to become drawn into his case plaint against brother B. H. Ploeg “of him some leeway in his views, but the and therefore, Ploeg formally joined the city” (Holland), saying that Ploeg majority of members voted that Ploeg the OS Presbyterians on 31 December should not be allowed to partake of should accept the entire church order, 1864.26 His talents were recognized communion since he had refused to which he refused to do.23 It was there- and he was immediately elected as be confi rmed formally as a member of fore decided that Ploeg could not be elder with 27 out of 33 votes. At the Graafschap according to the Church considered a member of Graafschap. election for elders two years later Order; further, that Ploeg had stated This did not sit well with Ploeg, and Ploeg asked not be re-nominated for that the [church] fathers had erred in he took his case to the classical assem- physical reasons. To attend church

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and council meetings, Ploeg, aged 72, b) that he had unlawfully resigned his a) It could acquiesce on this point a had to travel from Holland to Zeeland membership in Graafschap and had (probably because Graafschap was which may have become too burden- joined the Presbyterian Church, as much at fault as Ploeg). some for him. Nevertheless, when a and b) Ploeg acknowledged his error in year later, in January 1867, he was c) that he was alleged to have said the matter. elected clerk he accepted the position. that church leaders acted godlessly c) That the conversation had hap- In the summer of 1867 an internal with respect to feast days. dispute between the then pastor, Rev. pened six or seven years previous John Renskers, the council, and the and had been settled in a classical congregation deteriorated to such a Ploeg answered as follows: reconciliation. level that the congregation voted to a) Concerning being received unlaw- dismiss the entire council. This action fully—he acknowledged this but At its 8 September 1868 meeting, ended Ploeg’s association with the OS said that neither he nor the pastor the council decided that it would ac- 27 Presbyterians. nor the council, except for one cept Ploeg as a member if he would member, were acquainted with the acknowledge before the council that Back to the CRC pertinent classical decision when he had been wrong in resigning his Where to now? Ploeg returned to the he was received as a member.29 membership in the Graafschap con- Seceders meeting in Holland and in gregation and joining the Presbyterian 1868 requested membership at Central b) Ploeg acknowledged that it would Church, and that the expression that Avenue Christian Reformed Church, have been better if this had not “our fathers had dealt godlessly in which had been organized in 1865. happened, but that he was not the matter of feast days” had been Since Abraham Krabshuis, another willing to confess to any sin in this too harsh. After having done so, the CRC-OS Presbyterian wanderer, had matter. pastor would announce to the congre- successfully transferred his member- c) He acknowledged to have made the gation that the objections had been ship from the Presbyterian Church statement when discussing feast resolved and Ploeg was accepted as a to Central Avenue, Ploeg may have days with Rev. Van Den Bosch years member. At fi rst Ploeg could not agree thought that he should have no prob- prior and taking the position taken to this, but after serious admonition lem being accepted. But, unlike Krab- by the 1574 Synod of Dordrecht he consented by letter on 12 Septem- shuis, Ploeg had been under discipline which called for the elimination ber; however, the next morning he when he left Graafschap. The Central of all feast days in reaction to the retracted this via a letter that also stat- Avenue council was ready to accept Roman Catholic Church’s celebra- ed, “they did not need to worry about Ploeg’s membership from the OS Pres- tion of multiple saints’ days. This him anymore; that he was fi nished byterian church, but others were not. synod had established that Sunday with them.” This message was made At the council meeting of 17 August was the only day to be observed known to the congregation on Sun- 1868 (Art. 1) three members objected as holy according to Scripture; the day the 13th, and it was announced to the manner in which his member- 1619 Synod of Dordt, had given in that Ploeg was considered not to be a ship was received by transfer from the to public opinion and allowed for member of the congregation. Presbyterians without having to make such feast days, such as New Year’s While his membership eligibil- a reaffi rmation of faith. They alleged Day, Good Friday, Easter, Pentecost, ity was being discussed and shortly that while a member of Graafschap and Christmas. Ploeg admitted that thereafter, he wrote letters to De Ploeg joined the Presbyterian Church he had then told Van Den Bosch Wachter, the Dutch-language periodi- without approval and demanded Ploeg that the church fathers of 1619 had cal of the CRC founded in 1868 with confess these sins, after which he surrendered to popular demand in Vander Werp as editor. In lengthy could be admitted properly. Ploeg was this case. He added that perhaps he articles in the 18 August, 9 Octo- requested to appear at the following should have used a milder tone, but ber, and 18 December 1868 issues, council meeting where he was con- that he could not, nor would ever Ploeg explained his ideas on the true fronted with his sins, which were: make a confession that these com- Reformed faith, the covenant, and a) that he had not been received into ments constituted a sin. baptism. In the 7 May 1869 issue he the Graafschap congregation in set forth his views on conversion. In conformity with Classical deci- In response the Central Avenue this way he still managed to have a sions,28 council ruled as follows: voice in the CRC even though he was

17 no longer an offi cer, or a member, in any congregation. Endnotes 1. The Seceders were those who had, meeting on their property was subject Back to Basics under the leadership of Rev. Hendrik de to substantial fi nes and soldiers being Cock, formally left the Dutch Reformed quartered in their homes. Ploeg did not go back to the RCA— Church in 1834 to form their own 8. F. L. Bos, Archiefstukken, v 3, 8-9. his name is not listed in their mem- denomination, the Christian Seceder 9. Since only twenty people were bership records. Nor did he go back to Church. allowed to meet at one time, services Graafschap CRC. Other congregations 2. One of those elders, Hendrik G. were scheduled throughout the day to Klijn from Utrecht, would become a avoid fi nes. would have been too far for him to minister and in Michigan play his part 10. Henri A.V. M. Van Stekelenburg, travel. It seems most likely that Ploeg in a new secession drama. Landverhuizing als regionaal verschijnsel: did in his old age what he had done in 3. De Reformatie (Amsterdam: Höve- Van Noord-Brabant naar Noord-Amerika his youth and reverted to worshiping ker, 1837), De Handwijzer (Amsterdam: 1820-1880 (Tilburg: Stichting Zuidelijk D. Allart, 1850); De Vereeniging (nd). Historisch Contact, 1881), 166. In the in a conventicle. In the 14 September 4. De Stem (‘s-Gravenhage: H. Joffers, 19 May and 23 June 1858 issues of De 1870 Central Avenue council min- ed. 1851-1864); Letters of Benjamin H. Hollander he placed the following ad: utes, the minister and an elder were Ploeg to Helenius de Cock, dated 6 and “B. H. Ploeg makes and repairs boots, appointed to go to Ploeg’s home to ask 30 April 1852, Familiearchief de Cock, shoes, slippers, etc. for a very reason- inv. no. 56, Gemeente Archief, Kampen, able price. He promises reliable work him to reconsider becoming a mem- the Netherlands. and invites his fellow citizens to become ber. This visit did not take place until 5. F. L. Bos, Archiefstukken betreffende his customers. De Hollander, December June 1871; at that time Ploeg told the de Afscheiding van 1834 (Kampen, Kok, 1850–December 1860, Archives, Calvin brothers that he no longer wished 1942), v 3, 122. By 1828 this conven- College, Grand Rapids, Michigan. ticle’s growth and enthusiasm came to 11. Minutes of Pillar Church, Janu- to have any dealings with Central the attention of the authorities when ary 1856, Art. 8, Pillar Church Archives, Avenue. At eighty years old the fi ght on 5 February 1828 members signed Holland, Michigan. had gone out of him. Ploeg died on a request to the King to allow them to 12. Classis Holland Minutes 1848- 22 December 1874 and was buried in continue to meet. Ploeg was one of the 1858 (Grand Rapids: Grand Rapids Pilgrim Home Cemetery on Christmas signers. Printing Co. 1943), 204. 6. Johanna (1821-1857) married 13. De Hollander, 13 June 1860. Eve of that year. But he, despising Cornelis de Frel, they emigrated in Archives, Calvin College. feast days, would not have considered 1854; Sijke (1822-1861) emigrated in 14. Ibid. that signifi cant. Even so, he might 1855, she married Gerrit Bax in Hol- 15. Although it was fi rst called the have been pleased with the notice in land, Michigan; Hendrik (1825-1845); True Dutch Reformed Church, for sim- Hendrika (1827-1896) emigrated in plifi cation, I will refer to it as the CRC. De Hollander of 30 December 1874 in 1855, she married Frederick Kampfer- 16. De Hollander, 21 March 1860, which his reputation as community beek in Holland, Michigan; Johannes Archives, Calvin College. leader was evidenced by the fact that (1830-1845); Benjamin H. Jr. (1835) 17. Council minutes of Pillar many attended his funeral as a fi nal emigrated in 1855. Family archive of Church, 21 January 1859, Art. 3. Gerrit W. Sheeres, a collateral relative 18. Unfortunately, young Benjamin tribute “to this very well-known and of Ploeg. Ploeg disappears from all records. esteemed old gentleman.”30o 7. In an effort to prevent people from 19. Letter written to the Seceder Syn- leaving the Dutch Reformed Church, od meeting at Hoogeveen, Drenthe, and the government reactivated an old signed by Van Den Bosch, Jan Rabbers, law on the books from the time of the and Abraham Krabshuis. The fi rst re- French occupation that no more than quest for union by letter written in April twenty people could meet together at 1857 was declined. This second plea for any one time. Anyone allowing such a union was also declined. Both letters in

18 Volume XXIX • Number 2 • 2011

Rijksarchief in Utrecht, Collection GKN formed in Zeeland, while others joined Generale Synoden, inv. no. 55. the CRC. See also Richard H. Harms, 20. Assembly minutes of 3 Febru- “The Other Reformed: Dutch Presbyte- ary 1858, Article 10; Assembly minutes rians in Nineteenth-Century America,” of 2 February 1859, Articles 13 and Calvin Theological Journal, v 42, n 1 14; Assembly minutes of 5 June 1860, (2007): 33-49. Article 5. 26. Apparently Van der Werp, who 21. Classical Assembly minutes of had already become embroiled in Van 3 February 1858, Article 10; Classical Den Bosch’s stand-off with the Zeeland Assembly minutes of 2 February 1859, church, did not want to get involved in Articles 13 and 14; Classical Assem- Van Den Bosch’s confl ict with Ploeg. bly minutes of 5 June 1860, Article 5. 27. Ploeg also played a part in this When the minutes refer to the “city of dispute. In July of that year the church Holland” or to “those in the city” it is council records that the Zeeland CRC referring to this group. These people, in- had asked the OS Presbyterians to unite cluding Ploeg, became in fact members with them. They asked for a meeting to of Graafschap and as such were subject discuss the union. Irritated that Ploeg, to Graafschap’s discipline. the clerk, had not entered this matter 22. The Synod of Dordrecht held into the records, Rev. Renskers, the pas- in 1574 called for the elimination of tor, made a special notation of it; Ploeg all feast days in reaction to the Ro- reasoned that because he knew that the man Catholic Church’s celebration of CRC people would never join the OS multiple saints’ days. It established that Presbyterians and that Rev. Renskers Sunday was the only day to be observed had no intention of joining the CRC, he as holy according to the Bible; the 1619 had therefore left it out. Synod of Dordt, giving way to popular 28. According to which no members opinion, allowed for additional feast of other denominations may be received days, such as New Year’s Day, Good without confession, except those of Friday, Easter, Pentecost, and Christmas. the Christian Seceder Church in the Ploeg supported the 1574 decision. Netherlands. 23. Several members of the Graaf- 29. Ploeg was correct in this matter; schap council, such as Johannes Van by the time Central Avenue CRC was or- Anrooy, also objected to feast days and ganized in 1865 their pastor and elders were sympathetic to Ploeg’s situation. had not been delegates to any of the 24. Now also referred to as Old Style earlier classical assemblies where these Presbyterians. rules were adopted. Only Abraham 25. Adrian Van Koevering, Legends of Krabshuis would have been acquainted the Dutch (Zeeland: Zeeland Record Co. with these rules since he attended many Inc., 1960) 572, 573. An OS Presby- of these earlier sessions; however, he terian Church had been organized in himself had joined the OS Presbyterians Zeeland on 12 March 1863 under the and returned to Central Avenue without supervision of Revs. Johan and Berend any stipulation as to membership, so he Vander Las; there were twenty-eight may not have wanted to make an issue signers on the original documents of as- of this. sociation; the total membership reached 30. De Hollander, 30 December 1874; eighty. They disbanded in January 1874; Archives, Calvin College. many members returned to First Re-

19 “Now I will tell you children . . .” Hendrik De Kruif’s Account of His Immigration

Introduction (and some translation) by Jan Peter Verhave

Introduction My research on Paul De that his grandfather had been born Kruif,1 writer and activist there; his “grandpa’s folks were inden- on health care during tured, practically slaves.”5 the middle decades of Indeed, Hendrik de Kruif was born the twentieth century,2 24 July 1817 in Doornik (Tournai), uncovered a family doc- province of Henegouwen (Hainaut), ument in the archives then part of the Kingdom of the Neth- of the Zeeland Histori- erlands, now Belgium. His parents cal Society, written by were Antony de Kruif, a laborer from De Kruif’s grandfa- Beesd, the Netherlands, and Frederika ther Hen- Doratea Heutgens, born in ‘s-Herto- drik genbosch, the Netherlands. Antony (1817- went to the southern Netherlands to 1896) look for work in 1817 and may have to his met Frederika there. Antony and Hendrik De Kruif (1817-1897) pictured about the time he wrote son, Frederika married in Beesd on 30 the longest account of his journey Henry Jr., and May 1818, at which time they legally to Michigan for his children. dated 1894. The elder De Kruif re- acknowledged Hendrik as their son.6 Image courtesy of the Archives, counts the story of his journey across On 27 October 1843, Hendrik Calvin College. the Atlantic and through the eastern Jr. married Elizabeth Geerliena van United States on the way to Michigan; Beckom in Beesd. She was from the he was among those in the fi rst group nearby village of Deil, born 6 Oc- of pioneers who founded Holland, tober 1821, the daughter of Willem under the leadership of the Rev. Al- van Beckom, a cobbler, and Geerke bertus C. Van Raalte.3 This previously van Ringelsteijn.7 Hendrik Jr. and unpublished account adds another Elizabeth had two sons, Geerlinus dimension to the collective memory Elibertus (born 23 August 1844) and of West Michigan Dutch immigrants. Willem (4 May 1846–20 May 1847). Henry De Kruif Jr. added to his A few months after Willem’s death, father’s account by collecting historic the young mother died on 28 August, artifacts from the early period of Zee- at the age of twenty-seven. Typically, land’s history and from the Province information for the civil registrations of Zeeland in the Netherlands, the of the latter three events would have Dr. Jan Peter Verhave lives in the Neth- home of his mother’s (Dina Vande been provided by Hendrik, but it was erlands and is an honorary research 4 fellow of the Van Raalte Institute, Hope Luyster) family. Author Paul De given by Willem van Beckom, because College, Holland, Michigan, and As- Kruif barely bothered writing about his son-in-law had left for the United sociate Professor, Emeritus, Radboud his grandparents, but he knew the States and his exact whereabouts were University Medical Center, Nijmegen, family stories. When in Belgium with unknown.8 the Netherlands. his wife Rhea in 1930, they visited the As the following accounts reveal, town of Tournai and Paul told Rhea Hendrik had left Deil in 1846, intend-

20 Volume XXIX • Number 2 • 2011

Hendrik De Kruif lived in and operated a successful business in Zeeland. Michigan. Pictured here is the Veneklasen Brick Works in Zeeland, one of the community’s largest employers during the 1850s and 1860s, whose annual production reached 1.5 million bricks. Image courtesy of the Archives, Calvin College. ing that his family would follow the had died, Hendrik married Dina Vande in Zeeland on 8 June 1896; his sud- next year. He arrived at what would Luyster on 5 March 1848 and built a den death was attributed to neuralgia become Holland, Michigan, as one log house in Zeeland. His new father- of the heart. His widow, Naaije, who of the fi rst settlers with Rev. Albertus in-law, Jannes Vande Luyster, had was widely known and respected and Van Raalte. De Kruif soon mastered founded Zeeland and sold De Kruif an active member of the North Street enough English to be employed in the eighty acres of land, which he cleared Christian Reformed Church and in- store operated by Rabbers & Rekken and on which he began farming.10 volved in Christian charity work, died to wait on American clients. As soon Initially Hendrik was a Democrat, in 1898. as possible, he became an American but from 1860 onward he actively Two shorter undated versions of citizen in December 1852. He opened supported the recently organized Re- the emigration, one hand-written his own general store on Central publican Party. He was always a mem- with a pencil by Hendrik in rather Avenue in Holland, which he ran for ber of the Reformed church in which clumsy Dutch, and the other in a neat several years before selling it. he was a deacon, served the Zeeland handwriting, are stored in the Joint Paul De Kruif told a reporter in community as a constable (1851), Archives of Holland.14 These three 1948 that his grandfather traded with and later as a “court of arbitration.” documents provide a detailed account the Indians, selling fl our and various Hendrik and Dina (called Naaije) had of De Kruif’s experience. staples that they needed, as well as eight children—Johannes, Anthony, whiskey; and once a week he walked Dina, Henderika (died at 13), Henry, Account 1: along a trail from Zeeland to Allegan William, Peter, and Jannes.11 Geerli- “The Sea Journey of and back, some forty-four miles, with nus, the surviving son from his fi rst Dr. A. C. Van Raalte, of a 75- to 100-pound package on his marriage, arrived in New York on whom the Undersigned was a back, all in one day. Once during the 22 July 1855 and joined his father, 1930s, Paul wrote, after passing Zee- stepmother, and half-brothers and Travel Companion” land in his car, “In the early morning -sister.12 24 Sept. 1846 from Rotterdam. I drove on a new magnifi cent concrete In 1861 the family moved to Professor Brummelkamp and Rev. road that runs right through the farm nearby Holland where they joined the [Hendrik P.] Scholte bid us farewell where my father was born, and where RCA’s Pillar Church congregation.13 In in Rotterdam, on our ship [South- my grandfather made corn and wheat Holland Hendrik operated a butcher erner]. Because of his cordial speech land out of a malarious jungle–yes, shop and tannery; some years later I came to love Ds. Brummelkamp so they had malaria there in the old the family returned to farming in Zee- much that I would have liked to carry days.”9 land Township and in 1892 Hendrik him on my back to take him along to After receiving word that his wife retired to the city of Zeeland. He died America.

21 passengers all got sea- 3. My travel, [starting] on September sick. Only one man by 21st, 1846 from home to Rotter- the name of Harm Kok dam; the 25th from Rotterdam to and I remained healthy. Helvoetsluis. Here there was a fi re H. Kok, with his wood- on board; we stayed there 8 days, en shoes, I can still see waiting for a favorable wind; we being tossed across the sailed on the 4th of October. deck from one side to 4. at sea the other. But when the storm was over, we 5. 18 Nov. ashore in New York, heard for the fi rst time 6. from New York to Albany by boat, all that had happened, 7. from Albany by train to Buffalo; because I did not see there I stayed the winter anybody that entire time of 7 or 8 days, like 8. from Buffalo by boat to Detroit H. Kok and the man 9. from Detroit to Kalamazoo, by at the ship’s helm. The train ship’s cook died on land in America. 10. from Kalamazoo to Allegan, via Rev. Van Raalte wagon; there I stayed 10 weeks. looked as if he was re- 11. from Allegan to the Colony, where covering from a severe I arrived at Groningen 10 June Map with the villages of Beesd and Deil. De Kruif sailed from illness when the storm Rotterdam via Hellevoetsluis to New York City. 12. My encounter and work was over. He had col- lapsed and was tossed On 24 Sept. we sailed from Rotter- from one side to the other [in his Account 3: dam to Hellevoetsluis15 in good order; fi rst class cabin] and injured on his “Hendrik De Kruif-Now I will at Hellevoet we had a fi re on the ship, head and hands. These injuries soon tell you children . . .”16 which started in the stern. It burned a healed, though he was not of much hole into the upper deck of the ship, use for us on the ship. But once in Dearly beloved children!!! but the damage was soon repaired. New York he recovered and was ready I wish to let you learn through this We waited for a week, from Saturday to help. We all trusted ourselves to document my story from the time I to Saturday, at Hellevoetsluis. Rev. his care. He negotiated with all offi ces left the Netherlands until a few years Van Raalte preached there in a Chris- and we got cheap travel. after I had been in America. In the tian Reformed church; there were so I travelled with him to Buffalo, N.Y. Netherlands I was married to Eliza- many people sitting and standing, There our poor band stayed with a beth Geerliena van Beckom. God took so crowded that they could not have minister of the Reformed church, who her from my side by death in the third fallen down, even if they had wanted was recommended by Van Raalte, I year of our marriage. I do not provide to. And it was so silent that you could think. For me he was and remained details about this here. I believe she hear a needle drop. That sermon com- until his death a dearly beloved died in the Lord. forted me so much that I faced the sea brother in Christ. The reason I went to America was quietly. because although married I was liv- From Hellevoetsluis across the Account 2: ing with my father-in-law. He was a North Sea everything was in good shoemaker by trade and he had an order. With all sails the ship had, it “Sketch of my Departure herb store [probably a shop that sold went with an eastern wind through from the Netherlands to produce]. Because of religious enmity the English Channel. On the ocean, I North America” the well-to-do forbade the work- think it was the second day, the wind ing class to buy from his store. I had came up. Yes, a storm; all the hatches 1. [I went] for my external existence rented land which I cultivated. But in were closed because of the waves 2. for the freedom of church and 1844 and 1845 a potato blight came washing over the ship. Both crew and school and I had planted a great many pota-

22 Volume XXIX • Number 2 • 2011

toes. Not only did the potato blight of September 1846, between 12 and bring me trouble but also the concern 1 in the morning, I left my dear ones. over how I could struggle through to All the way from Deil, the village pay my bills honestly. But the Lord where I lived, I cried for fi ve hours. had plans to free me from the ties to Our company consisted of three my native land. In 1845 God sent hail people, Grades Blom, Frederik van and torrents of rain, so that in many Esterik, and myself. I was always the places fi elds were covered with water last because of my tears. I hardly saw or instead of crops one saw only the anything from the time we left home bare earth. There were no crops left in till Hellevoetsluis, for I was overcome the area where the storm had raged. with grief. Reverends Scholte and In three years I was plunged into deep Brummelkamp17 took leave of us on poverty and things seemed so dismal the ship at Rotterdam.18 I shall never to me that often I cried to the Lord in forget Reverend Brummelkamp. He my distress. There were, however, two Rev. Cornelius Vander Meulen was of so much comfort to me. Sep- (1800-1876) born in Zeeland, farmers for whom I had worked when served Seceder congregations tember 25, 1846, we sailed from Rot- 19 I was young, who offered me work in Zeeland, the Netherlands. terdam to Hellevoetsluis. We arrived for the whole year, but I was afraid to He led a group of Dutch there on Saturday toward evening.20 accept because the wages of a day la- emigrants from that province to I was a little seasick. Toward eve- America and founded Zeeland, borer in the Netherlands was a fl orin Michigan. After serving the ning we were in the English Channel (one gulden 40 cents) or even less. Reformed Church congregation and saw the chalk [white] cliffs of Under these circumstances letters in Zeeland, Michigan, he served England. That night I was on watch came from America from people who congregations in Chicago and with another man. This was a precau- Grand Rapids. Image courtesy had gone there in [18]44 and [18]45. of the Archives, Calvin College. tionary measure to prevent collisions They gave such a good account of this with other ships. country that within a few weeks the answered, “Because I lack the money.” The next morning we left behind report traveled through our Father- “If I may travel with you,” [he re- the lighthouses of England and Ire- land that the pious were planning to plied] “I will loan you the necessary land. We had a following wind. Two leave the Netherlands for America. funds.” I answered, “Of course you days after that we realized we were That troubled me anew. At fi rst I can travel with me, you have your on the ocean. Then a storm arose, thought I must stay behind. But the own money for travel.” lasting seven or eight days. The night Lord gave me a clear sign that He had Now I will tell you children why he before I was again in prayer and so heard my prayer. One Sunday toward asked me that. He sometimes drank deeply saddened because I missed evening I was walking in a meadow, too much and I had warned him sev- my dear ones. But the Lord prepared in the tall grass, and where no one eral times and once had picked him me for the storm and helped me to could see me I knelt in prayer and re- up on the road. I think he thought I be reconciled to my lot. During that ceived assurance that I would go with wouldn’t want to bother with such a entire storm there was only one other His people and die with them. I could person. But he [had stopped drinking person besides myself who was not write much about experiences both and] didn’t drink any alcohol until we sick. His name was Harm Kok.21 As a internal and external, but enough. I, had been in Buffalo a long time. One result, the captain asked me to cook my wife, her parents and two sisters week after our talk we went to Rot- for the passengers, and so I was the decided to go to America. I was to go terdam to buy our tickets. We were cook until I too became ill–at which in the autumn of 1846 and the others the last two who bought passage on time we had been at sea for twenty would follow me in the spring of ’47. the boat with Dr. Van Raalte, which days. I was sick when we arrived at I told a good friend, “I too am going pleased me very much. New York after forty-two days on the to America,” but I didn’t know how Now I must return to the last days ocean. We landed the 12th of Novem- because I had no money. One day I of my stay at home. Those were so ber 184622 and I was so weak I could met a man who asked me if I were diffi cult that I didn’t know what to do. scarcely walk. going to America. I answered uncon- The reason was the thought of leav- We went from New York to Albany vincingly “Yes,” but I said, “I don’t ing my wife, my two children, father, by boat. That night my condition know when.” “How is that?” he said. I mother, sisters, and brothers. The 21st began to improve; in Albany I began

23 to regain my appetite. We went from with all my might and lived in hope. way we do in the Old Country.” Mrs. Albany to Buffalo by rail. In Rochester In the early part of March 1847 I cut Kellogg noticed this and asked me if I we met Hollanders who received us my foot with an ax and had to walk in wanted to work in the garden the fol- in a friendly manner. We stayed there crutches for eight weeks. Then Elder lowing morning. I said I couldn’t do one day. When we arrived in Buffalo Plageman took me in at no cost until much because of my leg. Then Mrs. my companion, who had loaned me I could earn a living again. The 28th of Van Raalte, who was the interpreter, the money for the trip, wanted to stay March we took the boat from Buffalo said they would pay me 5 shillings there, so I had to stay for his sake, to Detroit. But the boat became ice and board and would take care of my although there were others in the Van bound near Buffalo for two days. foot. I accepted the offer and worked Raalte party who would have will- On that journey we passed Rev. Van ten weeks in Judge Kellogg’s garden ingly taken me along to Michigan. Raalte, although we did not learn that and when I left he gave me a new But I stayed with G. Blom, to whom I until we arrived in Detroit. He had coat, which cost $6, as a present. Now owed 79 fl orins and 79 cents in Dutch already been here (western Michigan) as I mentioned before, Jan Rabbers25 money. I paid him my debt that same in the forest. From Detroit we went by has helped me to pay my debt to G. winter.23 rail to Kalamazoo. Here I was asked Blom, so I was duty bound to help . . . night for about 20 cents and to work as a gardener for $1 a day him when I could. Jan Rabbers hired I paid that with wood which I car- and board. But my friends wanted my me away from Judge Kellogg to be ried back at night. It only cost me 80 company, so from Kalamazoo we went the interpreter for him, because Jan cents a week for my board. Yes, dear with ox teams to Allegan. There we Rabbers was going to operate a store. children, I had to work hard and be found Rev. Van Raalte’s family. Here I He also bought cows and oxen and very frugal because I expected my renewed my courage. everything of which there was need. wife and children and I had to pay I was still walking on crutches. I I even bought cats to deal with mice back my traveling expenses. I worked want to tell you that Mr. John Kel- and squirrels that were in the tents logg had taken Rev. and log houses. When I made the Van Raalte and his fi rst trip for Rabbers and Co. (Rek- family into his own ken was the name of his partner) I house.24 When Mrs. arrived about 9 or 10 June 1847 in the Van Raalte asked colony (they called Holland, Zeeland, them why they were and environments “the colony”) I so generous in their was brought to Groningen (2½ miles hospitality, they said west of Zeeland) because Jan Rabbers it was because Saint lived there. His house stood where the Paul said that thus cemetery is now. one might entertain I arrived late in the afternoon and angels unawares. since he had no room for me he asked That Scripture verse a man to act as my guide and I was to had been laid on stay at his house. As we walked we their hearts. Mr. told each other our life history; we Kellogg had a nice were so engaged in conversation that garden with fl ow- we lost our way in the woods. It grew ers and fruit trees. dark and I said to my companion, let’s He had a gardener. I build a fi re. So we got a big heap of went into the garden fi rewood under a big beech tree and on my crutches to pillowed our heads in the roots of see how garden- another beech tree and in this manner ing was done here I spent my fi rst night in the colony. and also to see the I had a large hunting dog and tied fl owers and fruits. I it by a rope to my arm. I thought if took the tools in my wild animals came he will warn us. It The grave marker for Hendrik De Kruif and his wife, Dina Van De Luyster (1824-1898), in the Zeeland, Michigan, Cemetery. Image hands and said to the was a marvelous dog and if a stranger courtesy of the author. gardener, “This is the shook hands with me I had to warn

24 Volume XXIX • Number 2 • 2011

him or the dog would have bitten him. The place where we spent that Endnotes night was not far from Benjamin Van 1. Paul Henry de Kruif (1890, kilometers upstream. Raalte’s house. I stayed with Jan Rab- Zeeland, Michigan–1971, Holland, 8. All these data, including the Michigan) is most noted for his 1926 certifi cate of birth from Tournai, are in bers and Co. until 1848, also work- book, Microbe Hunters. The book was a the Provincial Archives of Gelderland, ing on his sawmill.26 When I left him bestseller, and has remained on lists of Arnhem. and settled up, I had $1.28 left. With recommended reading for scientists. He 9. For malaria in Holland and that I began my marriage on March 5, graduated from the University of Michi- Zeeland, see Jan Peter Verhave, Disease gan with a Bachelor’s degree (1912) and and Death among Early Dutch Settlers in 1848, with Dina Vande Luyster, and a PhD (1916). His books include: Our Holland Michigan (Holland: Van Raalte we lived with her father and mother Medicine Men (1922), Microbe Hunters Institute, 2007). in the township of Zeeland, Michigan, (1926), Hunger Fighters (1928), Men 10. Data are retrieved from 100th section 19 northwest of the cemetery Against Death (1932), Why Keep Them anniversary booklet, The Founding Fami- Alive (1937), Seven Iron Men (1937), lies of Second Reformed Church Zeeland, on the hill overlooking the swamp. The Fight for Life (1938), The Male Hor- Michigan, 2004. There, Father and Mother Vande mone (1945), Health is Wealth (1940), 11. Ibid, and “Henry de Kruif,” in Luyster died. Father died March 13, Life Among the Doctors (1949), Kaiser Portrait and Biographical Record, Mus- 1862. He was 73. Mother died Janu- Wakes the Doctors (1940), A Man Against kegon and Ottawa Counties. (Chicago: Insanity (1957), and The Sweeping Wind Biographical Publishing Co., 1893) 416. ary 10, 1874, when she was 77 years (1962). In the Netherlands the name is 12. Geerlinus Elibertus, named after and 9 months old. spelled “de Kruif” while in the United his mother, was living with his father, Your mother and I lived right next States it is spelled “De Kruif.” Hendrik, and stepmother, Dina, in 1860. to the First Reformed Church in the 2. Jan Peter Verhave, “Paul De Kruif: His age on arrival is given as eighteen, Medical Conscience of America,” in when he was actually twelve; it may village of Zeeland. We lived there Dutch-American Arts and Letters in His- have been given to obviate problems 8 years and kept a store. The Lord torical Perspective, Robert Swierenga, Ja- with the shipping company and US Cus- blessed us richly. It was no small cob Nyenhuis, and Nella Kennedy, eds. toms resulting from someone so young matter to come to this wilderness. We (Holland, Michigan: Van Raalte Press, traveling alone. Later he changed his never lacked for food.27 2008), 191-202. Further information name to George Eldridge. about Paul De Kruif will be gratefully 13. The majority of the congregation . . . notation. This book was lost, received: [email protected]. joined the CRC in 1885. not found again. This writing is part 3. Henry S. Lucas, Dutch Immigrant 14. Earlier translated by Seth Vander of my story I give to my son Hen- Memoirs and Related Writings. rev ed, Werf and retyped in 1979, these have drik because he is my namesake, as a (Grand Rapids: W. B. Eerdmans Publish- been retranslated by the author. ing Company, 1997). See the accounts 15. In 1830 the Kanaal door Voorne remembrance. of Henry Cook, Egbert Frederiks, Evert (Canal through Voorne) was fi nished Feb. 7, 1894 Zagers. that made Hellvoetsluis, then a naval Hendrik De Kruif Sr. 4. Holland City News, 30 October base, the outport of Rotterdam. The 1913. town’s name translates as “sluice at the 5. Paul De Kruif, The Sweeping Wind, foot of hell.” a Memoir (New York: Harcourt, Brace & 16. The original manuscript, most World, Inc., 1962) 154. likely written in Dutch, is not extant. 6. At the time in many locations The present document is a translation, in the Netherlands engagements were apparently made by one of Hendrik’s tantamount to marriages and it was not children. The handwriting indicates uncommon for a couple to have a child schooling in America and the translator (even children) during the engagement emphasized the unusual spellings by period. It may have been because the “father Hendrik.” Two pages plus part of couple could not afford to establish the text on the last page are missing. their own household or it may have 17. Like Van Raalte, Scholte and been to show that the woman could Brummelkamp were ministers in the have children. Legally, children born Secession. Scholte was the founder of before the legal marriage were consid- Pella, Iowa; Brummelkamp was a mod- ered illegitimate, unless the parents erate and the loved pastor who stayed acknowledge the birth at the time of behind. He later became professor of the their wedding. Theological Seminary of the Christelijke 7. Beest (now spelled Beesd) is on Gereformeerde Kerken in the Nether- the north bank of the river Linge, in the lands at Kampen. western part of the province of Gelder- 18. The American vessel “South- land. Deil is on the south bank, some 3 erner” out of Boston was a three-masted

25 barque, under the command of Captain T. Crosby. Other sources call it a brig, which by defi nition is two-masted. 19. Different accounts have different dates of departure which may refl ect when the ship left the dock at Rotter- dam versus the channel at Hellevoet- sluis. 20. Page 7 is missing. 21. Harm Kok died the year of arrival in Holland, on 29 December 1847. See the sketch by his son Henry Cook, in Lucas Dutch Immigrant Memoirs and Related Writings, I, 49-53. 22. Most sources record the arrival date as 19 November. 23. Page 10 is missing. 24. Judge Kellogg advised Van Raalte to settle in Ottawa County. 25. De Kruif consistently spelled Rabbers as Rabbens. 26. Planks were sawed and transport- ed by De Kruif to Kasper Lahuis, who built fl atboats for transport upstream on the Black River. Lucas, Dutch Immigrant Memoirs and Related Writings, I, 116. 27. There appears to be some text missing here.

26 Volume XXIX • Number 2 • 2011

“When I Was a Kid,” part IV This my childhood autobiography must be dedicated to the beloved wife of my old age—Gwendolyn De Jong

Meindert De Jong, with Judith Hartzell1

Jan’s Birth Mother was pregnant when we trav- bedroom to see the new baby and I eled to America, although we boys asked, “How do you know whether didn’t realize it—such things were it’s a boy or a girl?” I had always se- never discussed in our family. Then cretly longed for a little sister. one July day we awoke to fi nd a Nobody said anything and in a strange woman busying herself in the long silence all looked embarrassed. house, and Father had stayed home I came to their rescue and spoke from work, even though the sun was up knowledgeably, “Oh, sure, I know. shining. If it was a girl, she’d have long hair.” After weeks of searching, Father Little Jan had no hair at all. had at last found work as a carpenter All us boys stood solemnly look- and was making twenty-fi ve cents an ing at the baby then, until Dave said, hour, apprentice wages for apprentice “And Jan can become President of work. He’d been a master carpenter, the United States, can’t he, Father? bricklayer, and architect in Wierum, Because Rem and Meindert and Knil- but twenty-fi ve cents an hour was all lis and I can’t—we weren’t born in he could earn here. He accepted it so America. But Jan was.” we could eat. “Yes,” Father answered gravely. But this special day he stayed “Jan can become president.” home and told Rem and Dave, with- The baby was sickly and malnour- out explaining why, to take Knillis ished from the start—born sick, and and me for a day of exploring the sick he remained. So he had to be wild countryside around Grand watched constantly. We weren’t sure Rapids. We had a fi ne day, discover- our doctor knew the best treatment, ing new animal wonders, snakes and but we owed him so much money, even snake eggs, turtles and chip- from his attention to Mother dur- munks—all wilderness wild to us. ing the birth, that we didn’t dare call When hunger drove us home at another doctor, for fear we might last, we found this unfamiliar woman offend him; then he might send a bill Meindert De Jong (1906-1991) was an cleaning something in a washtub in collector after us. award-winning author (the fi rst Ameri- the back yard. Father met us on the Shortly after Labor Day in early can to win the Hans Christian Ander- front step and told us, solemnly, that September a black-bordered letter sen Medal) of twenty-seven children’s God had brought us a new brother books. Judith Hartzell is a professional came from Wierum saying that Great 3 writer now living in Greenville, South and that he was going to be offi cially Beppe had died suddenly. Father, the Carolina, who became a friend and named Jan (John) when later he was black-bordered letter still in his hand, co-writer with De Jong when they both christened in church.2 met me on the porch and told me of lived in southwestern Michigan. Father called us in to Mother’s her death, with tears in his eyes. I

27 when she would get well. It must have been a hard burden for Father to carry, but he never complained to us: his method of solving problems was by hard work and faithful church- going. Mother’s doctor, not under- standing her sickness, had taken to prescribing painkillers for her, drugs so that she was often drowsy, robbed of will power, and unable to get well or help us grow up. Into this dilemma came an angel in the form of a nurse named Nellie, who appeared to us kids suddenly and unexpectedly. Father had befriended a middle- aged spinster from our church who loved to discuss church doctrine and theology with him. This lady, Katie Skeepstra, had a prodigious memory: she could recite word for word our pastor’s sermons each Sunday and The four De Jong brothers (left-right): Neil (Cornelis David, “Knillis”), Meindert (“Mick”), that was one or two hours of solid Raymond (Remmeren), and David Cornel, c.1915. Image courtesy of the Archives, Calvin College. sermonizing. One day, having observed the great remember being very uncomfortable, true and includes Christians. For unhappiness of our household, with seeing his tears. I felt totally inad- little Jan, the pastor said, this cov- Mother sick and the house ill-man- equate to respond to his sorrow—as enant guarantees he will live forever aged, Katie—bless her—told Father if I’d betrayed him, loving him so with Jesus. she had a friend who could help and unable to feel his deep grief or to This comforted my parents. A us. The very next morning, Nellie remove it. child myself, I didn’t understand and appeared at our door, a tall, skinny, A week later Mother became ill was baffl ed by their deep concern. homely, ah, so wonderful woman who with a mysterious ailment which the After this, Mother was sick all the entered our house and, that moment, doctor couldn’t diagnose or cure. He time. She just stayed in bed. The doc- took charge. She had been a nurse called it “rheumatic fever.” Dave now tors came to see her once in a while, in a hospital and now worked taking had to take care of Jan, since Father but they didn’t seem to know how to care of well-to-do women in their was away all day working. The poor cure her. homes. The income from that work baby gradually grew more sick until she used to take care of Mother—des- he died in November. Nellie perately poor, sick and helpless—for Since birth Jan had always been Gradually our lives grew better, since absolutely nothing. too sick to be taken church for his Father was able to fi nd work suit- That fi rst day she assessed Moth- christening. My parents agonized able to his considerable experience er’s situation and persuaded Father over that untimely death without and skill. But for more than a year to stop consulting our old-fashioned baptism. I think they believed that Mother remained sick and unable to doctor, and brought in another, baptism is necessary for salvation. run our household. Dave did most younger one, who properly diagnosed However, the minister said that since of the work of cooking and house- Mother. Then Nellie took over total- the baby was a “covenant child,” he cleaning after and before school; his ly—fi xing meals, cleaning the house, was now in heaven. By “covenant life was unending work when he was shopping for clothes, baking cakes, child” he meant that God’s promise thirteen.4 bread, and pies; at last, wonderful, that He would be God to Abraham The worst of it was not knowing tasty foods. She freed Dave from his and his children forever still holds what was wrong with Mother and housemaid’s chores and sent him

28 Volume XXIX • Number 2 • 2011

outside to enjoy life. In fact, enjoying realize the full extent of boys’ appetites. was able to live a normal life—shop, life was her specialty, and she saw to We all began to cheer up and fatten up make friends, attend church—with- it we all would now begin to join her. as Mother regained her strength and out ever learning English. And out of Soon she introduced us to our Nellie worked her charm. anger at our early suffering, she never fi rst American ice cream sodas at the Nellie took us on outings too, to her did learn it. corner drugstore. She watched over church as well as other places. They But in later years her Dutch- us carefully, making sure we were spoke Dutch in her church like they speaking became an inconvenience, bathed, well-dressed, and especially did in ours, but Father and Mother when she was unable to converse warned us not to pick up any strange, with her beloved, English-speaking worldly ideas there; Nellie was from grandchildren. Still, it seemed she and the Reformed Church. The truth taught the babies instinctively knew how to there was, to my parents, less pure communicate. than the truth of our own Christian None of us boys knew a word of Reformed Church. I don’t know about English when we came to America, that, but it was from Nellie that we and we were still largely language- learned what it was to experience the ignorant when school began in Sep- love of God in action. tember. In Wierum I had been in the Eventually, when Mother was well fourth grade, with the big kids and enough, Nellie moved on, to another the headmaster, which was equivalent home which, she said, needed her to the sixth grade in America, since more than we did. We remained close we’d continued classes year-round friends with her until she died. Periodi- in the Netherlands and didn’t have cally she would invite us kids over to months-long, bucolic summer vaca- feed and mother us once again. tions. But here I was pushed down When Mother had at last regained into the third grade because I couldn’t her health and strength, she said one speak English. My brother Dave, who day to Father, “Now, when are we go- had already fi nished school in Wier- Meindert De Jong in 1920 as he began attending ing to go back to the Netherlands?” um and had gone to work, had to go the newly opened Grand Rapids Christian High “We’re not going back,” Father told back to school here, way down in the School. Before 1920 high school age students her. sixth grade. could attend the academy at Calvin College. Image courtesy of the Archives, Calvin College. “I don’t want to stay here where we Then, after Mother became sick have had nothing but grief and pov- that fi rst autumn, she couldn’t care well-fed. She reveled in that! erty!” she cried out. for little Knillis anymore, so I became “Seeing you boys happy,” she said, “But that’s exactly why we must his nursemaid. Father, who had to be “is more fun than twenty picnics!” stay,” Father told her. “We have expe- away at work all day, got permission We all blossomed out, but the rienced the worst that America has to from the school board, all members greatest transformation took place in offer. Now we must fi nd its best.” of our church, to have three-year-old Mother. With a doctor who immedi- Mother said that in that case, she Knillis come to school and sit with ately took her off sedating drugs and would make sure we didn’t pick up any me at my school desk. Even though properly prescribed for her illness, and corrupting American ways. Dutch, and it stretched Father’s poverty wages with Nellie’s constant attention and only Dutch would be spoken in our to the limit, he and Mother insisted encouragement, Mother began to get house. (By this she meant only Frisian that we continue to attend a private, well. Mothers in control are so impor- would be spoken. All our reading had Christian Reformed school. tant to kids. to be in Dutch.) Also we must keep Knillis sat there beside me both Soon Mother began to help Nellie Dutch customs and eat Dutch foods. morning and afternoon sessions, with the work of satisfying our boyish, Mother never gave up longing for quietly coloring or looking at picture bottomless appetites. Dave bought her homeland. “If I could only crawl books. While we older three boys bags of buns, and Mother hid them back on hands and knees,” she said, “I were demoted, you could say Knillis under her bed to dole out to us in would.” was promoted. He was quiet and well- between Nellie’s home-cooked meals, Because so many people then in behaved like Dave, and far, far better since Nellie, being childless, did not Grand Rapids also spoke Dutch, she than Rem or me.

29 In the Netherlands we had never in our little blind alley home. At fi rst Knillis and I never went back to that had spelling as a subject, the words Dave had to assist. (Later I replaced wasteful story session. seeming to spell themselves by their him as housecleaner.) To get Knil- In Wierum I’d never been to a sound. But here in the States we had lis and me from underfoot, Mother children’s library. The state church spelling, and a chart was prominently sent us to the Sigsbee School library. I had a little library which was open for pasted on the front blackboard, with a liked to go there—I liked books—and half an hour only on Saturdays. But it string of red, blue, or gold stars beside little Knillis doted on picture books. held only serious religious tracts and each pupil’s name. There, before the But then the librarians started a adult novels. My family never read whole class but at the very bottom, story hour in one of the upstairs class children’s books to us when we were stood my bare name without a single rooms. The kids who were attracted little; we didn’t even know such books star. I felt denuded, and rather than by the story hour fi rst gathered in the existed, nor did many exist then, at endure the daily shame I slowly made library, which had been quiet but now least not in Wierum. myself into a profi cient speller. was bedlam. The fi rst time Knillis and But arithmetic was something else. I walked into this, I timidly thought The Difference between I’d had no trouble with sixth grade I had to go along upstairs for the Dave and Rem arithmetic in Wierum, but for some story hour where with great tongue- Rem’s life and adventures were to me reason the transference of fi gures clacking and gestures one story got much more exciting and penny-and- and sums into English eluded me. It told when the story-teller got the kids metal-monetarily more rewarding began in that humiliating third grade, quieted down. We went along with than Dave’s. Viewing Dave through and to this day I still do my fi guring this once only. the childhood’s gulf of nearly fi ve in Dutch, however comfortable and After that I believed if we went into years, he always seemed more sedate even accomplished I now may be in the library room we’d get sent to the and adultishly mature than did the English. (People tell me that I speak story room, so from then on, Knillis athletic, excitable, adventurous Rem. with no trace of an accent.) and I played in the schoolyard until In the early immigrant years in On Saturdays at the Sigsbee Street after those kids had gone up for their America I don’t remember Dave play- Public School, the one-room public story. Then he and I went into the ing, for instance, scrub-ball.5 Now library held a story hour, and thus quiet, kid-emptied room with only every one of our three alleys had a va- came about my fi rst acquaintance the grandmotherly, comfortable librar- cant lot, which all the alley kids used with children’s literature and my utter ian there with us. And, in that quiet, as our ball fi eld, small as it was. But I fascination with the fairy tale. Satur- I discovered the Lang series of fairy don’t recall Dave ever being in one of day was also pre-Sunday cleaning day tales, The Red Fairy Book, The Blue our ballgames, or in a good fi st fi ght. FairyF Book, etc. His self-invented games even way By our back in the Netherlands were always fi rst spring geographical and statistical—some- ini America, I thing studious with which Rem hadn’t foundf out that the slightest patience. So I got shang- evene in dif- haied to play with Dave. He knew not fi cult English only every capital of all the numerous I could read at little countries of Europe, but even leastl ten tales of the important countries in Africa, ini the time it Asia, and North America. tookt the story Perhaps because we could afford hourh librar- so few toys, all I can remember hav- iani to tell just ing was my baby pull-horse and my one.o My math abacus—kids had to invent their own wasn’tw so bad games. So Dave’s was geographical. thatt I didn’t He’d draw a map of Europe, with Begun in 1905 as Coade Avenue Christian School, the name changed when knowk that ten its capitals and chief cities. Then the street name changed to Baldwin in 1914. In 1973 the school became stories were we’d throw dice, and according to part of Creston-Mayfi eld, which closed in 2010, with the opening of the new Grand Rapids Christian Elementary School. Image courtesy of the Archives, ten times better the number on the dice, be entitled Calvin College. than one. So to conquer that much paper terri-

30 Volume XXIX • Number 2 • 2011

tory, with all its citizens, which Dave mean-looking butcher knife and offi cial letter explaining what I had would carefully count up. would we run! He never caught us— done and I got an extra week’s full, Not being statistic-minded, I liked our fl eet-guilty speed kept us each in endless detention. to draw corridors to the cities and one uncarved piece. Rem left school as soon as he legal- claim the most possible territory. I Orchard Hill Street ran next to ly could—after eighth grade. When he think I invented the corridor to the Mr. Calkins’s backyard. It was well- grew up, after a brief stint as a profes- sea, later copied by Hitler when he named. Every house had fruit trees sional boxer (he used me as a sparring established the Danzig corridor to and grapevines. There’d been no partner), Rem became a skilled brick- divide and conquer quartered and fruit in Wierum, so every grape and layer, master mechanic, and carpenter, invaded Poland. I should have taken nut was a sore temptation. We could following right in Father’s tracks, out a copyright. climb up the trellis and gather grapes except for formal learning. He was These corridors would disgust from the porch at one house. If the very able and had a successful life, Dave, as not being according to his people unexpectedly came home, but he had no patience with anything rules, and he’d impatiently end the we’d hide fl at on our bellies and intellectual or scholastic. I dedicated game, tired of all the laborious era- protect our shirtsful of grapes from one of my books to him once, but I sure my corridors caused. I suspect, squashing until we could slide safely doubt if he ever read it. He was purely since unlike Rem I was too young to down and escape. a nature boy all his life. fl atly refuse to play, it was my way of A man was mowing his lawn getting out of playing geographical once when Rem and I cut through Knillis the Preacher and statistics. I hated them. his hedge. The man said, “Don’t you Robey Place Rem’s inventions were less games know any better than to do that? My younger brother grew up in than they were money-making What are sidewalks for?” Rem an- Grand Rapids’ stern, heavy church schemes. Besides fun and mischief, swered with a big mouth. The man atmosphere. We all attended church Rem liked money. Here in America took off after us then. We ran and three times each Sunday to hear our Rem’s penny-and-nickel invention were caught by a wire fence; we both fi ery preacher6 warn us of the evils was sand—sand in winter for icy vaulted it, but the man got his foot prophesied by Ezekiel, Daniel, and St. sidewalks. He and I would dig sand stuck and fell fl at on his face. We John. When Knillis was four and fi ve, from under our porch in our alley, heartlessly stood and laughed at him. church-going was his big excitement screen it, and drag it in a wooden box We ran wild in those days. Mother of the week. He was a master mimic, on a sled to the houses of what we was sick, Dad didn’t know, and we and for a while he went through a thought were the rich, people over on misused our almost full freedom. phase of giving long sermons. He Lake Drive and Cherry Street, who I had no sense of time and was would copy the minister in tone, could afford to throw away nickels for always late to school, so for punish- infl ection, long-chinned facial expres- a sprinkling of abrasive sand. ment would have to stay after school sion and movement, almost exactly in After Mother became sick she until the teacher went home. One everything. couldn’t supervise us children very week, while I was serving my sen- When we kids had tea parties he well, and Father was always at work. tence, Rem and I had planned to go would begin to pray over the cook- Even when Mother was well she fi shing after school. Rem waited for ies and tepid tea, and then go on and didn’t always know what was going me in the school yard, and when the on. If we laughed at him he’d sternly on, because she never learned Eng- teacher was out of the room, I jumped scold us. “Don’t mock the Word!” he lish, so she didn’t perfectly under- out the window, even though it was would say. Mother was very proud of stand the school rules and procedures. on the second fl oor. I landed hard her youngest son. Praying at the tea We two boys, Rem and I, became little in the gravel of the schoolyard, but parties with other alley kids on the scamps, always looking for fun and nothing was hurt or broken, so off we front porch, he was so amazing that mischief. went fi shing. peddlers and visitors, even passers-by We knew where “Old Man Once, when I was late again, in would stop to listen. He only prayed Calkins” lived. He cultivated fruit and desperation I wrote a note in Dutch, on the porch, but sometimes in the nut trees, and we were always throw- giving a good reason for my lateness privacy of our living room he would ing things into his trees to get the and signed Father’s name. Obviously launch out on full-fl edged sermons fruit down. Then Old Man Calkins the teacher recognized my childish to us older boys, and we’d better not would chase us with a wickedly long, scrawl. That time Father received an laugh. “You young people misbehav-

31 ing there in the back of the church— absolutely delicious,” he told her. So era. When you grow up, the gulf shame, shame on you!” she tried one out on Neil and me, the disappears. Dave, instead of Rem, The precocity of kids can’t be ex- younger boys, at lunch. We each took became my closest friend, and Hattie plained. One day he suddenly stopped one bite, and together, jostling each became my wife.9 preaching and turned into an abso- other in our desperation, headed for lutely quiet kid. It was a complete the back door to spit it out in the yard Adventures with Neil transformation—I suspect he was just to get rid of the awful taste. At dinner The biggest day of the year for Neil— preached out. that evening Father and David and my brother soon dropped “Knillis” for After that he was off on his own. Rem were presented the same treat, the more American “Neil”—and me After supper, and coffee and dessert, and they reacted exactly the same was the county fair; I saved every cent Father’s habit was to pray and read way: one bite, followed by the race from my grass-cutting jobs for weeks a chapter of the Bible every night in to the yard to get rid of the vileness. and months beforehand and then his slow, deliberate voice. Then we’d But Mother liked tomatoes—or didn’t splurged every last cent in our day- sit and talk some more until at last dare admit she’d wasted hard-earned long orgy of rides, gambling games, someone suddenly asked, “Where’s money on them. She kept trying and and candy eating. We would arrive in Knillis?” But always Knillis would be eventually we all ate them. the morning before the gates opened long gone—he had slipped away so Mother also learned to bake from and usually had to walk home at end smoothly, nobody noticed. In later life a Dutch-speaking friend, Mrs. Over- of day, since I never seemed to learn he turned into a perfectly normal, wit- einder,7 a very fi ne cook who lived to save two nickels for streetcar fare. ty, and articulate person—and never three houses up in the last house Dad and Mother thought the fair preached again. on Robey Place. In the Netherlands was educational; so did our severe When Mother was nearly well, we Mother didn’t bake for the fam- Christian school. Supposedly the one- heard of a deal from a friend; instead ily—she bought all our bread and day-school-dismissed child only went of paying nine dollars a month rent cakes from the bakery shop. So she to study the long stables of domestic at the dreadful damp Donald Place, was grateful to Mrs. 0 for lessons on farm animals—cows, bulls, and hors- Father could buy another house on baking and also on canning fruits es down to ducks, geese, rabbits, and the middle of our three alleys, Robey and vegetables. With practice Mother chickens. Neil and I never darkened Place. He only had to pay off the loan became good enough to bake all our any stable door—going to the fair was at ten dollars a month. His work now bread. She also had two cakes which our annual one day of riotous living. had become steady enough, so we were her specialties, one white and It was worth every last cent and the picked up our belongings and moved one brown. long walk home.10 in to our third and last alley into a The Overeinder family had arrived Mother always gave us a whole house of our own. Our new home some years before we did,8 so they quarter and her blessing for the day. was solidly built, had an indoor toilet already knew the ropes. They came Many of the booths had “Lucky Num- and a bone-dry cellar. For privacy and from Groningen in Holland, a neigh- ber” games. People would put their distinction it even had a thick privet boring province to Friesland. Mr. Ov- nickels on numbers, then the man hedge around its little yard. We were ereinder was a carpenter, like Father. would roll a ball in a big fancy wheel, moving up in our alley world, after Their daughter Hattie was an and it would land on a number; if it only two years and two alleys. acquaintance of mine from the time was yours, you’d get the prize. Neil Mother learned to cook some I was eight. I would say “friend of and I played cannily. We’d only play American foods in the third alley mine,” but I really didn’t know her at a booth where nobody else was, house. From hucksters she learned well at fi rst. She was three years older and nearly always the man would about American vegetables and fruit. than I, the oldest of three sisters, manipulate the big numbered wheel Men peddling fruits and vegetables and her sisters Liz and Dena hung at the back of his booth so that one of door-to-door from wagons were com- out with me more than she did. As a us would win the prize. mon in Grand Rapids in our early child, three years age difference can Then he’d yell, “Look folks! These years. In Wierum we’d never eaten seem an unbridgeable gulf. There little boys just won!” implying that if tomatoes, but a huckster persuaded were three years between Hattie and kids could win, anyone could. After my mother to buy one when she me and fi ve years between Dave and he’d attracted a crowd, Neil and I became curious because they looked me. At age eight the venerable age of would take the prize and look for the even redder than apples. “They are thirteen seems like another, ancient next empty gambling booth. Another

32 Volume XXIX • Number 2 • 2011

time we won a duck, but we couldn’t mile-long Reeds Lake when a swarm feel and sense, which later contribut- carry it, loudly quacking, all the walk- of bees came and used our rowboat ed to my writing stories for children. ing way home, so we had to bring as a Noah’s ark. Crossing the lake, Still later, when I was older and it back to the “Ring a Duck—Get a they’d apparently run out of steam or thus could earn still more, I got a job Duck” booth. This time the man won. aero-dynamics. With the fl at blade of mowing grass at the big city-owned The fi rst and last time I ever saw our two oars we fi shed the drowning Greenwood Cemetery, at the farthest a pig walk a tightrope was at the fair. bees out of the lake to let them dry end of town from where I lived. We Once we got stuck on the top of a out in our boat. In the hot summer were expected not only to mow the broken Ferris wheel for a couple of sunlight they revived too fast and be- endless grass and sprinkle it, but also hours. gan to buzz around our heads angrily to dig graves and, occasionally, dig Next to going to the fair once a and thanklessly. So each with one up bodies that were to be moved to year, Neil and I loved swimming oar, tight together on the middle seat, other cemeteries. That was disgusting. together every summer evening in Neil and I rowed our bee load to the The undertakers who sold cement Kooster’s Lake11 best, out Michigan shore, since they seemingly blamed us burial vaults claimed that they were Avenue in the back stretches of the for their dunking. When we and the air-proof; but they were anything huge “Maryland Farms.” It took my bees made it to shore, they dispersed. but. The coffi ns disintegrated along little brother a long, long time to trust We won the desperate race without a with the bodies. After digging up a water. When Neil was only three, single bee sting. recent corpse we wouldn’t be able to Rem, on one of his sudden impulses, eat for the rest of that day no matter threw the child into the eight-foot- Summer Jobs how hard the digging had been. If the deep end of the Wilcox Park swim- Like my older brothers, as soon as I corpse came from an ancient section ming pool. Rem then had to dive was able, I also worked to supplement of the cemetery, things were more right in after Neil to rescue him from Father’s poor immigrant carpenter’s decent; there would be nothing left drowning. It scared Neil so that it income. For us boys the most avail- but a skeleton and some transparently was three years later before I could able work was mowing lawns and thin rags of clothes. get him even to try to learn to swim. shoveling snow in what we thought We buried still-born babies too, in It bothered me deeply, I being such a of as rich American neighborhoods, their tiny coffi ns. No one ever came water rat myself. I’d learned to swim where they could afford to waste with them—the mortician left the with Rem at the Wilcox Park pool, so twenty-fi ve cents and even occasion- miniature coffi n at the cemetery offi ce much so, I’d made swimming in wild, ally a whole dollar on green grass and and you carried it under one arm to unguarded lakes my favorite sport. white snow. In time, as I got other (to the section for stillborns. We always I took Neil with me to Kooster’s me) rich Americans’ lawns to care for, looked inside fi rst. Even though the Lake, and he would sit in about three not by the job but by the month, this babies were beautiful, you felt awful inches of shallow water and play. turned into a bonanza. that day too. Finally, in his own time, he ventured In the basement of one employer’s Six days a week, eight hours a day, deeper and eventually became a good, garage, where the yard tools were we worked, and that’s an eternity of strong swimmer. This happened, I stored, there was also, between verti- lawn mowing. When in the hot sum- guess, because of my attitude. A child cal slats from fl oor to cellar ceiling, a mer months we got to sprinkle, it myself, I had the good sense to let ceiling-high stack of Saturday Evening was a blessed relief from lawn mower him overcome his fear with no urging Posts. I would tend to the yard awhile, pushing. There were no power mow- and no pushing. then take a break in that heavenly ers in those days. We liked swimming in the lake cool basement with its tall storage Greenwood Cemetery was eighty better than in pools because not only bin. It was like dope once I started. acres big; in the middle of the sum- were there no supervisory guards, but I couldn’t stop reading until I’d get mer it took a dozen boys to keep it you could swim bare naked in that hunger pains. In the course of that trim. Families of the deceased were back-acre lake. It was luxury. In the summer, I read the Posts down from supposed to pay yearly dues for city swimming pools even boys had to the ceiling to the garage basement upkeep. If they didn’t, I was given wear skirted swimsuits that dragged fl oor. I didn’t bother with articles or a hefty map book of the cemetery you down. serials but devoured the short stories and told to drive a stake in the plots, Neil and I loved to fi sh too. One and, seemingly from that summer’s to identify them as unpaid and in summer day he and I were fi shing in reading orgy, I got my story-telling arrears. Then the boys would mow

33 around that plot and it would be left dance,” and started to leave, but he returned to fi nd nothing—not even to grow weedy, unkempt and unwa- called me back; it seemed I couldn’t be the puppy’s grave. Perhaps Father in- tered—sere and wild. fi red until the end of the day. When I tuitively had understood that Neil, in Always we began work well ahead got home by slow streetcar after my his grief, might dig up the grave just of Decoration Day (Memorial Day) at last day’s work, he’d already changed to see his beloved dog again. the end of May, because then families his mind and wanted me back in the Then Neil was back to broken- would come to the cemeteries to place morning. I knew exactly why—when hearted “waiting and seeing” until fl owers on their plots. Everything had not grave-dancing, I could out-mow good fortune struck through a potato to be tidy then, except for the unpaid- anybody. To celebrate my reinstate- farmer, Mr. Dryer. We ordered po- for plots, which stood out weedy in ment from disgrace, I bought a touring tatoes, which Mr. Dryer brought in the sea of clipped green so everybody car, a Model T Ford, for forty whole his old pickup truck, and with him, could see who wasn’t paying their dollars, so I could drive to Greenwood in a shoe box, was a fat little mixed dues. Cemetery instead of having to take the breed puppy, black and brown with We younger boys liked to read the stop-and-go streetcar. That was a great four pure white paws. The pup was oddly-rhymed epitaphs on the older day! It started with a fi ring and ended in need of a good home. Right away, graves out loud to each other. I re- with a fi rst car. Mother picked up the squirming little member one little poem well: guy, held his nose to hers and named Felix him “Feka,” Frisian for “Felix.” We Heaven retaineth now the treasure, The autumn I was fourteen, and Neil pet-named him “Fiekie.” He had Earth the lowly casket keeps; nine, a good friend came into our made a hit with Mother, so now he But the angels love to linger family to stay—Neil’s dog Felix. For was “in” as a fully qualifi ed member Where our little Lulu sleeps. years young Neil had been longing of the family. for a dog, but, in Father’s opinion, Felix and Thomas the cat became Me [sic] and my mowing part- our little alley houses and yards were great pals. They would wrestle con- ner, both of young age, found this too small, and his answer to Neil was stantly, and Thomas gave the pup a Lulu and while he whistled, I danced always, “Wait and see.” That spring rough time but, before very many around the grave with my shirt held “waiting and seeing” had paid off months passed, Felix was twice the out as if it were a skirt. But then the when impulsive Rem bought Neil a size of the cat and still growing. At superintendent came sneaking up to baby Boston bull terrier. The poor ten months he weighed at least fi fty check on us and fi red me on the spot. thing lived only a few months and pounds. My whistling partner at least had his then succumbed to distemper while During the summer Neil and I hands on his lawnmower handle, so Neil, Mother, and I were away in liked to go swimming with Nuppy he didn’t get fi red. I told the boss, Kalamazoo visiting relatives. Neil had Everts, who lived next door, and Roy, “Well, sorry you didn’t like my little gone away and left a frisky puppy and a chubby kid whom we usually called Pieface, solely in honor of his love of that food. The nickname didn’t bother him a bit—he so loved pies. As soon as I was old enough to buy my Model T, we would take Fiekie along to Kooster’s Lake. Before Fiekie, our clothes used to get stomped on by cows which wandered around the meadow surrounding this muck bot- tom lake. But Felix, after being told a few times to “Sic ‘em,” appointed himself as our wardrobe watcher and chased the cows until they all galloped away with their tails straight up in defeat. The farm on Remembrance Road, northwest of the Grand Rapids city limit, which Meindert DeJong and his parents moved to during the Great Depression. He and Hattie Overeinder lived on the second He also, all by himself, appointed fl oor for the fi rst several years of their marriage. Image courtesy of the Archives, Calvin College. himself as the protector of Mother. If

34 Volume XXIX • Number 2 • 2011

anybody came to our door—friend, this time we were past our poverty it. That’s fi ne, Fiekie.” She broke off foe, salesman, or peddler—he would days and Mother had given up bak- a tiny crumb and handed the rest of station himself between her and ing—cinnamon rolls at another, and the cookie to him. “Never, never the them, and she’d have to warn, “Don’t, so on. Fiekie changed the shopping whole thing,” she scolded. Then she please, shake hands or in any way chore to a fun outing, and he and Neil took a whole cookie and offered it to touch me—he’ll go straight for your and I caused a sensation wherever him. He refused it. He wouldn’t even throat.” we went. Soon Fiekie and Neil and I look at it. From then on, Fiekie would By Fiekie’s second winter he had were in demand to buy other people’s eat only broken cookies, but never the grown into a powerfully built dog. groceries for them, and deliver them. whole thing, and shopkeepers liked to Back in the Netherlands dogs were We had no problem getting custom- show off his intelligent discrimination trained and used to pull carts and ers, but some problems keeping them. to their customers by handing him sleds, so Mother took some heavy Although Fiekie was very reliable, a whole cookie which he wouldn’t suspenders and made a harness for squirrels, rabbits, and stray cats cre- so much as look at. He got a lot of Fiekie. He trained very easily and ated a great risk to the safe delivery cookies piece by piece and crumb by enjoyed pulling Neil on the sled. of some vulnerable items, eggs, milk, crumb that way. It was Neil’s and my job to do the and cookies. Saturday morning grocery shopping, Fiekie became famous for his at- High School—End of Childhood and this had become quite a chore titude towards cookies. Once when I was in the very fi rst class of the because Mother was fussy about her Mother was baking, a cookie fell to newly opened Christian High, which groceries and completely innocent of the kitchen fl oor; Fiekie snatched was inaugurated as the premier Grand Rapids’ geography. In her opin- it and ate it. Mother scolded him Christian Reformed high school in ion one meat market excelled in pork, roundly and then showed him what all Grand Rapids. Its students were another in liver sausage, no matter he should do. “If only part of a cookie not only local but also came from all where they were located. Bread must drops on the fl oor, or is handed to nearby small towns with Christian be bought at one special bakery—by you, Fiekie,” she said, “you may eat Reformed Dutch enclaves. We met in the old Calvin College and Seminary building on the corner of Franklin Street and Madison Avenue. Our most fresh freshman year began in Septem- ber 1920, and we graduated in June 1924, at which time the school had grown into a full-fl edged, four-grade high school. That was in the roaring twenties, but the only roar we heard was that of our principal and preachers. I well remember the fi rst girl students who’d dared to have their hair bobbed, run- ning weeping from the full session room when a remorseless preacher in- formed them that the Bible said hair is a woman’s crowning glory, and they’d certainly desecrated their God-given crowns. It all did little good. It’s as easy to stem the advance of fashion as to stem the tide, and every day there were just more bobs. You couldn’t chase all the girls home; you wouldn’t have a coeducational school left. Even Grand Rapids Christian High School began in the same building that previously had housed Calvin the girls’ mothers conspired against College. Image courtesy of the Archives, Calvin College. our principal and our preachers, who

35 were trying to teach their daughters to written—even perhaps pay money for live right, righteously, and un-bobbed. it. Rem left school forever after the Mr. Jenne was a Methodist in that eighth grade. His early departure is otherwise all Christian Reformed high probably what saved me as a student. school. Whether this fact sweetened I was running with Rem in those days, his personality, I’m not sure. He had skipping school at will and spending lived in the South and been a Method- almost more time in punitive teachers’ ist preacher before he decided to go closets than in their classrooms. Dave into teaching. Years later, when I was had left school after eighth grade too, a successful writer and giving speech- to work in a drugstore, so that ended es in the Grand Rapids area, people the little bit of restraint that Dave would come up to me, especially girls provided. from his high school classes, and tell After the drugstore, Dave went me how they too had worshiped him. back to school at a commercial col- Mr. Jenne’s sense of humor was lege, but quit it in total distaste for marvelous, and his appearance was business and commerce. He still engaging too: he was short, roly-poly, managed to get a job as an underpaid and always smiling. Basically, he en- clerk in the city’s biggest bank, but joyed teaching and us students. Nor he couldn’t stomach that job either. was he a strict disciplinarian like the Finally Dave went back to fi nish his other teachers. high school degree; then he went He saved me in math. I’d fl unked on to Calvin College, the Christian A former Methodist church minister, Theron it fi rst term, had to take it over and Reformed college in Grand Rapids. I’d Jenne was a well-liked teacher at Grand Rapids squeakily got passed on “condition” Christian High and an inspiration to Meindert already graduated from high school to De Jong. Image courtesy of the Archives, Calvin after my second try. Then I got Mr. Calvin, and so it happened that I, fi ve College. Jenne for my third mathematical try. I years Dave’s junior, was a year ahead don’t think he especially liked math; of him in college. By that time we but none ever seemed good enough, he was hired as an English teacher, both wanted to become writers, and and then he died. but in those days a teacher had to that was the only thing we both took Like Muoike [Aunt], he had the teach any subject where and when- seriously over our three college years facility of seeing what was good and ever the administration needed him. I together. interesting in me, and especially in can remember the principal occasion- Dave and I looked alike and my writing, which was mostly poems ally coming into the back of the class dressed alike during our Calvin years, at this time. He singled them out for and sitting through one of his math which proved convenient for us, be- praise and read them aloud to the lessons, to check up on him, and Mr. cause if one of us got in a scrape, the class. This was heady stuff. More Jenne would be nervously agitated on authorities would generally accuse the important, he sent them off to be these occasions. I sympathized fully. other one, and he would righteously published. It was the fi rst time I knew Mathematics nervously agitated me and indignantly deny it up and down. that could be done. too, and shook my foundations, my Unfortunately, none of my high roots, and all the rest of me. Mr. Jenne and Math school writings was published. He But thank goodness he did teach Grandfather, Mr. Diekman (my Dutch had, no doubt in ignorance of how to it. I had failed math every year since elementary school accomplished sto- get started in the writing fi eld, sent third grade. In that school system ry-telling teacher), and Dave all were them to The Literary Digest, which they would pass you on anyway if infl uences on my decision to become only printed republished poems, so you only failed in one subject. From a writer. But the man who did the of course they sent mine back to him. third grade on, as I was passed on to most to get me started was Therone But his faith in my amateurish writ- higher grades, the math just became W. Jenne—my great, high school, ings was enough to give me a swelled ever more diffi cult, outlandish, and non-Dutch, English teacher. I always head. The seed had been planted that perplexing. wanted to dedicate one of my books just maybe I could write well enough That’s when—somehow— Mr. to him, I so loved and admired him, so others would want to read what I’d Jenne got me through algebraic math.

36 Volume XXIX • Number 2 • 2011

highh school. The teachers cents a dozen rather than twelve cents noticedn the great change wholesale. ini me, of course, and they Somehow I counted as my cus- discussedd it at a teachers’ tomers the two children’s librarians meeting.m I saw one of them in the Grand Rapids Public Library, ini the hall later. “You just who in turn graciously peddled them wastedw an hour talking,” I out to the other librarians. Librarians toldt him. “I can tell you the had steady incomes in those diffi cult reasonr for this great change days.13 ini four words: No more On our farm I not only had my mathm forever.’” chickens, but a pet goose and little duck that both had evidently been BecomingB a Writer trained by some former owner. And ThereT are times when things as I regaled my children’s librarian aare at their worst that they friends and customers with the antics take a most unpremeditated of my trained pets, they insisted I turn for the better. So it was write a children’s book about them. when along with my father, A good customer is always right, but mother, and brother Neil we I was upset: “Who me? I never even tried to eke out a living on a read a children’s book as a child! Left to right: Calvin College students and friends Ralph Bolt, little forty-acre Depression Impossible!” To assuage them I wrote Meindert and David De Jong. Image courtesy of the Archives, farm, for which we’d traded a six-page story—as short as I could Calvin College. our house in town. make it and still hopefully keep all When the Great Depres- those good librarian customers happy. I passed the second semester. Then sion struck, my Father was a suc- It only whetted their appetite. They there was just geometry still to go. I cessful builder in Grand Rapids, a demanded more—a whole children’s got a regular math teacher for that, prosperous contractor with twelve book. an old fellow who had a rock-hard set men working for him. This was only And then, if not exactly persuaded, method of testing: every monthly test fi fteen years after we came to Grand my own six-page story took hold of we got consisted of two theorems and Rapids. By the time I was in high me—I had to see where it would go one problem. school, Father was doing well enough So I memorized those two theo- to buy a comfortable house with a big rems literally word for word, and yard and garage on Dwight Avenue, comma to comma, so I could repeat and he and Rem remodeled it from them precisely, down to the last cellar to attic, so that it was very period. I would get the theorems one handsome. hundred percent letter perfect—and But overnight the 1930 Depression the problems one hundred percent swept Father’s building business away. perfectly wrong. But the correct Nobody had money to build new theorems got me a passing grade— homes. To eke out a living we had to sixty-six and two-thirds percent was trade our house in town for the farm, good enough. It got me through high owned by a lawyer. Besides the town school geometry and through math- house, we had to pay him fi fty dollars ematics for life. a month on the farm’s mortgage.12 The I was weak with relief, but when I four of us, Father, Mother, Neil and got my strength back, overnight I be- I, tried our best to earn fi fty dollars came an “A” student. Once I got out a month by farming. To stretch the of math, my whole attitude changed. income from our chickens, I stopped If it hadn’t been for Mr. Jenne and Mr. selling eggs wholesale and began Dust jacket of the reprint of Meindert De Jong’s fi rst book after he had won the prestigious Hans Two-theorems-and-one-problem, I peddling them out by the dozen to Christian Andersen Award. Image courtesy of probably would have dropped out of housewives—as this netted sixteen the Archives, Calvin College.

37 but we still never could replace our lost family. For me, my Pake David’s warm, grandfatherly house remained alive only in memory. But somehow I seem to have been blessed with the ability to recoup something from bitter losses. When I was grown and began to write books about my childhood in Wierum, the whole village came back to me as I wrote. I could see the tower and the ancient church, the dike, the sea, all the streets and their houses. I even remembered the names of the occu- pants of all the houses. It was all as vivid and total and clear as if set in amber. From that total recall I wrote many of my books, including my two autobiographical favorites, Shadrach and Journey from Peppermint Street. Again I recouped blessings from loss Remmeren and Jantje De Jong and their four sons (back row, Meindert is on the far right) and when Father lost the Depression farm. grandchildren. Image courtesy of the Archives, Calvin College. From that little farm and its animals came material for many more of my and where it would take me. I was covered my inner love for all animals, books.15 hooked. And so, thank goodness, was not merely household pets, and out Coming to America, we lost the the children’s editor then at Harper of that little farm I wrote the bulk of happiness of childhood in a little and Row publishers. It needed some my books. The fi fty-dollar-inadequate Frisian village, but we gained what rewriting and touching up—I was a farm turned into a gold mine and, Father had set out to give us: futures novice—but that done, they took it, more important, a soul-satisfying life- for all four boys. Dave and I became and my fi rst book, The Big Goose and long career. writers; with only sixth-grade educa- the Little White Duck, was accepted tions available to us in Wierum, this the fi rst time out. Overnight I was a Summing Up would have been impossible. Both novice no longer, but a professional.14 In coming to America we lost some- Rem and Neil became house build- In writing more children’s books I thing precious which we never re- ers like Father, and both did well and received, as a precious gift, total recall gained—the life in a community small earned comfortable livings to support of my childhood in the Netherlands. enough to be cohesive and friendly, their families. Any one of us boys And I discovered that if I directly but, with its fi sher folk, volatile and could have moved back to Friesland wrote to please the child in me, I also exciting. There was, no doubt, com- when we grew up if we’d wanted to; pleased children. And even though munity in the immigrant sections none of us did. We accepted the gift the fi rst royalty from my fi rst book of Grand Rapids, but when we fi rst of a prosperous future which our par- came too late to save our fi fty-dollar- arrived, our own folk and kin were ents, through their faith and courage, a-month farm, on that farm I had dis- unfriendly. At last we made friends, gave us.o

38 Volume XXIX • Number 2 • 2011

Endnotes 1. De Jong and Hartzell met after he 6. Rev. Henry Danhof. stock Park, north of the city, about 6½ had retired from writing and became her 7. Anna (Anje) Burema was married miles from the De Jong’s home writing mentor. to John (Jan) Overeinder and immi- 11. It is now called West Lake. 2. The family were members of the grated from Veendam, Groningen, the 12. De Jong graduated from Calvin Dennis Avenue (now Mayfair) Christian Netherlands in 1914. College in 1928 and he briefl y taught Reformed Church. 8. De Jong is mistaken on this since at Grundy College in Grundy Center, 3. Yttje Meinderts De Jong died 24 according to records at Ellis Island, Iowa. They bought the farm on a land August 1914. John (Jan) Overeinder arrived 9 April contract. 4. For David’s account of this see: 1913, while the census records of 1920 13. As city employees their pay was David Cornel De Jong, With a Dutch Ac- indicate the rest of the family arrived cut by 25 percent in 1932. cent; How a Hollander became an Ameri- in 1914, the same year that the DeJong 14. The book was published in late can (New York and London, Harper & family arrived. Perhaps because the 1938. De Jong had moved from the farm Brothers, 1944). Overeinders had acculturated faster into the city in 1936 to concentrate on 5. A version of baseball played with- than the De Jongs, he assumed they had writing. out teams. Players work their way up come earlier. 15. Fifteen of his twenty-seven pub- through the various positions until they 9. Hattie (baptized Harmke, born lished books were based on his experi- can bat. If they do not hit safely, they 28 February 1903 in Veendam) and ence on the farm. return to the fi eld to begin the process Meindert married 6 July 1933. again. 10. The fair grounds were in Com-

39 Rev. Albertus Christiaan Van Raalte 1811–1876

n 17 October 2011 it was two Ohundred years since the birth of Albertus Christiaan Van Raalte in Wanneperveen, the Netherlands, the eleventh of seventeen children born to Rev. Albertus van Raalte and his wife Christina Caterina Hark- ing. The younger Van Raalte also became a minister but not in the Dutch national church, the Her- vormde Kerk, like his father, but in the churches that seceded from the Hervormde Kerk beginning in 1834. In 1846 he led a group of emigrants to North America, the fi rst in a wave that would total 300,000 by 1920, when the United States began plac- ing strict limits on immigration. A conference examining Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte’s roles as a leader and Rev. Albertus Christiaan Van Raalte, 1811- liaison began with two days of ses- 1876. sions at Hope College on 24 October and concluded with two more days seceders from operating their own in Ommen, the Netherlands, on 3-4 Christian day schools. November. These experiences coupled with an Albertus C. Van Raalte graduated economic depression in the Nether- from the University of Leiden in lands that affected his parishioners 1834 planning to become a minister severely and the potato blight that in the Hervormde Kerk. While at swept Europe during the 1840s de- the university he and other students stroying the principle food source for became acquainted with the seceder his parishioners convinced Van Raalte movement and in 1836 he was or- and fellow minister, and brother-in- dained a minister in these churches law, Anthonie Brummelkamp that the rather than the national church, time had come to leave the Nether- that same year he married Chris- lands. Others were doing the same tina Johanna de Moen. He served and going to either the United States several congregations experiencing or South Africa. After careful study arrests and fi nes by civil authorities and writing for more information attempting to eradicate the seceder Van Raalte concluded that the avail- movement and who later forbade the ability of land, social opportunity and

40 Volume XXIX • Number 2 • 2011

religious freedoms made the United as it was called by the immigrants, States the better destination. In 1846 were diffi cult as they adjusted to a a group, with a constitution, was new physical environment, climate, formed to emigrate to North America. and diet. In addition to serving the On 2 October 1846 the fi rst group West Michigan community as a pas- of fi fty-three with Van Raalte as their tor, Van Raalte was the land agent leader sailed for New York, intend- for his followers, their legal advisor, ing to follow the Hudson River, Erie and, at times their doctor. He estab- Canal, and Great Lakes to Wisconsin, lished churches, with others began where a smaller group of Dutch im- newspapers and business enterprises, migrants had already settled. and sought state and federal funds to They arrived in New York City improve the community, particularly on 17 November and were greeted to clear the sandbar and build dock by ministers of the Dutch Reformed facilities, and in 1857 established Church (now the Reformed Church secondary education in the colony by in America). Given the lateness of opening an academy. The academy the season the group was advised to was expanded into Hope College in stay in the Hudson River Valley for 1862. Within three years the number the winter. Instead they continued of Dutch immigrants in Michigan via Albany, then Buffalo, to Detroit, grew to more than 5,000. where they were forced to spend the In 1850 the Dutch congrega- winter when ice closed the Great tions joined the Reformed Church Christina Johanna de Moen Van Raalte, 1815- Lakes to shipping. While in Michigan in America (RCA), a decision not 1871. they were convinced to settle in West accepted by all. Criticism of this Michigan rather than continuing to union along with other complaints reputation suffered from the events of Wisconsin. about how the Colony was run led the late 1860s and his prestige in the Van Raalte and a small group to a number of emigrants leaving the community declined. traveled to West Michigan to in- RCA and initially joining the Pres- Van Raalte spent his remaining spect land available from the federal byterian but those leaving beginning years managing his investments, pri- government. They selected the region in 1857 formed a new denomination marily in land, and helping his chil- around Black Lake (now Lake Ma- that is now known as the Christian dren. When Christina died 30 June catawa), about midway between the Reformed Church. 1871 his life became lonely. After mouths of the Kalamazoo and Grand In spite of the dissention Van the October 1872 fi re that destroyed rivers, for settlement. Sailing ships Raalte continued to work for the much of Holland, including its entire could not enter Black Lake because community’s growth. But the work business district, Van Raalte rallied a sand bar blocked the channel took a toll on Van Raalte and his the population to rebuild. He died 7 between the lake and Lake Michi- wife, who bore eleven children (seven November 1876 recognized for his gan, but Van Raalte was convinced survived into adulthood). Twenty contribution to his church and com- that once the sandbar was cleared a years after establishing Holland, Van munity. The Van Raalte Institute at thriving harbor could be built. He Raalte retired as the minister of First Hope College, various place names in envisioned that the harbor, called Reformed Church. He briefl y at- and around Holland, Michigan, and Holland, would serve as the commer- tempted to establish a Dutch colony a statue in Holland’s Centennial Park cial, social, and religious center of all near Amelia Court House, Virginia, recognize the work of this minister, Dutch settlements in West Michigan. in 1869, but returned to retirement community planter, and leader.o The early years in the “Colony,” in Holland late that same year. His

41 book reviews

penetrating look at the CRC from ered why the Presbyterians had had 1910-1920, especially focusing on its diffi culty gaining converts, since the ideas, ideals, prejudices, discussions, populace was steeped in Buddhism. and fi nally a major decision about the Further, by following the mission church’s fi rst foreign mission work example of many other fi rst-time mis- in either Africa (mostly Nigeria) or sionaries, they had failed to become China. Arguments included the racist part of the community. For example, notion that the African people were they built their homes outside the city “emotional but impressionable,” walls, and “from all appearances they which some thought would make could have been transplanted from conversion to Christianity easier, any Dutch-American neighborhood while others thought “the sterner in Grand Rapids” (p. 79). Their main teachings of Reformed missionaries” intent was to organize congregations would not succeed when compared that would closely resemble CRC to teachings like Methodism. When congregations back home. Years later it came to China some were pessi- they admitted that “we were hasty mistic about being able to establish and ill-advised” to adopt such an ap- a missionary beachhead there, since proach (p. 83). The mission effort was A New Way of Belonging: so many other denominations had also greatly hampered by dissension already begun work there (there within the CRC mission community, Covenant Theology, China, already were over 8,000 Protestant especially by the work and attitude of and the Christian Reformed and Roman Catholic missionaries in Lee Huizenga, the missionary physi- Church, 1921-1951 the country). The arguments became cian. The other missionaries tried sev- Kurt D. Selles especially heated between 1918 and eral times to have him banned from 1920 as the parties carried on their of- their mission because of his obstrep- (Grand Rapids, Eerdmans, 2011) ten passionate, prejudiced arguments erous behavior (pp. 103-106). The ISBN 978-0-8028-6662-2, in committees, church periodicals, work that was most fruitful initially softcover $28.00 and on the fl oor of synod. Synod 1920 was carried out by two women—Wil- fi nally decided to focus its fi rst foreign helmina Kalsbeek and the local “Bible mission effort on China. woman” named Wu—as they began Kurt Selles, whose family lived and At the time most Christian groups to teach the local children. worked in China for nineteen years were located along the east coast and This work took place as a wave of and whose grandparents were Chris- through comity agreements missionar- anti-Western sentiment began to build tian Reformed Church (CRC ) mis- ies had “staked out” their territories. in China, complicated by several peri- sionaries to China, is well suited to Since the CRC was a new (and “com- ods of civil war. In 1927 nearly all the tell this story. An introduction gives petitive”) group, the new missionaries missionaries had to fl ee Rugao, fi rst a bird’s-eye view of recent centuries had considerable diffi culty locating a to Shanghai and then to the United of Chinese history—mostly a story of territory until the Presbyterians even- States. Some of the missionaries upheavals and wars. The upheavals tually yielded a location, centered on returned later that same year and the included opposition to foreign infl u- Rugao City, in which they had found it others by 1929. Further, the cultural ences, including Christianity. too diffi cult to win converts. differences between the Dutch Calvin- Chapter 1 provides a brief but The CRC missionaries soon discov- ist other Protestant groups and the

42 Volume XXIX • Number 2 • 2011

Chinese caused diffi culties. For ex- tremendously during these years, and denomination’s mission failed . . . ?” ample, the CRC was long suspicious life for the missionaries was no excep- His four-page answer is worth reading of American style Sunday schools, tion. Some initially sought safety in and pondering. their theology included the “stern Shanghai, to eventually return to the The CRC learned to look and reach teaching” of Calvinism, they rejected United States. Some who remained beyond its walls, to carry the Good hymns in worship until 1934, con- were imprisoned by the Japanese and News to the other side of their world. demned movie attendance, and they in 1950 the last CRC missionary, Rev. They sent out their fi rst spiritual observed the Sabbath more strictly Albert H. Smit, left Shanghai for the ambassadors into an incredibly dif- than many other denominations. Each United States, ending almost thirty fi cult mission fi eld, where they toiled of these components of doctrine and years of CRC work in China. faithfully, inspiring future missionar- mores was carefully weighed by the After 1950 the church in Rugao ies to go and do likewise. As we read mission and the mission board in carried on as a small congregation, about the early missionaries—both Grand Rapids. with only one evangelist-pastor, Wang about their staggering diffi culties The few brief years of relative peace Aitang, and only sporadic advice as well as their great faith—we also and security soon came to an end and very limited gifts from the CRC. fi nd a refl ection of their home com- in 1937 when the Japanese invaded Wang had to suspend his leadership munity, a Dutch-American immigrant China (including a bombing of Ru- when he was imprisoned in 1967, church, trying to fi nd their place in a gao); this was followed by World War and the church “disappeared.” Selles’s new environment and learning how to II, which in turn was followed by the epilogue asks the question, “Does express and share their faith. civil war between the Nationalists and the absence of a Christian Reformed- Communists. All of China suffered related church in Rugao mean that the Harry Boonstra

43 George J. Groen taught in various erational faith testament. Nonethe- Christian schools, eventually serv- less, as Groen recounts the religious ing as Executive Director of Elirn journey and customs of folks he knew Christian Services, Palos Heights, Il- in Crooks and Ericson Townships, he linois, from 1989 to 2000. By his own drops names of many families, places, assessment, he has written a “story” and events, thereby creating a tool of his life, not a “history.” Groen micro-historians have come to value. recounts his birth and boyhood in Of equal importance are the Renville County, Minnesota, where author’s references to the Emden con- he received his elementary education gregation. Groen’s descriptions of this in a one-room, rural school in Crooks rural church form one more small Township. Groen describes sturdy piece in the story and background of Christian nurturing from devout German Calvinists—the Ostfrisians parents on their farm and among fel- and the Grafschaft Bentheimers— low believers in the Emden Christian who with the Dutch established the Reformed Church for him, his twin Christian Reformed denomination. brother, and fi ve other siblings. Traditionally called “the German Heritage Ascent: Established in 1890, the Em- element” in the CRC, these people Gathering the Generations den church was one of the German still await a comprehensive histori- cal and theological study written in George J. Groen congregations founded by Ostfresian immigrants, who had come looking the English language that focuses (printed in cooperation with for farmland in west-central Min- on them and their experiences with Dordt College Press, 2011) nesota. The author’s recollections the German State Reformed Church. available from author: are rich with descriptions of life on a Such a study would also explore their corcgroen@aol com; family farm and in a country church unique place in the history of the 623-203-4853; $10 among the “plaatduits” (plattdeutsch CRC in this country and their infl u- or Low German) speakers during the ence on that history from the begin- fi rst half of the last century. This book ning. Books like Groen’s encourage is not a regional history, nor is it so this process. much a family history as it is a gen- Eunice Vanderlaan

44 Volume XXIX • Number 2 • 2011 book notes

Nederland emigratieland Soevereiniteit en Religie: (1845-1960) Emigratie, Godsdienstvrijheid onder de landverhuizing, gastarbeid eerste Oranjevorsten in Duitsland, (in Dutch) inburgering Amerika Emo Bos (in Dutch) Verloren, Hilversum, the Netherlands Peter Stokvis ISBN 978-90-8704-095-6 Tilia Levis, Berlicum, the Netherlands €39.00 Hardcover (www.boekenroute.nl) ISBN 978-90-71633-13-3 €13.50 Paperback

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

Jacob Quintus and the Sheboygan Nieuwsbode by Hans Krabbendam The New Jersey Dutch by Richard Harms Frisians: Destination–Paterson, New Jersey by James J. de Waal Malefyt James Koning Memoir (ca. 1908) edited by Robert P. Swierenga

JacobJacob QuintuQuintuss

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46 Volume XXIX • Number 2 • 2011

Mr. and Mrs. John Zonneveld Sr., Laton, CA Benjamin and Debrah Vander Kooi, Luverne, MN contributors Mr. and Mrs. William J. Vander Leest, Leduc, AB Contributing Sponsors Mr. and Mrs. Allan J. Van Popering, Grand Rapids, Walter and Carol Ackerman, Superior, CO MI Mr. Adrian Van Sledright, Caledonia, MI Origins is designed to publicize and Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Alsum, Ft. Collins, CO advance the objectives of the Calvin Mr. and Mrs. Jay A. Anema, Seattle, WA Sam and Judy Van Til, Crown Point, IN College and Seminary Archives. These James H. and Diane Bloem, Louisville, KY Dr. Gene and Sylvia Van Zee, Grand Rapids, MI goals include the gathering, organization and study of historical materials produced Ed and Betty Boersma, Visalia, CA Dr. and Mrs. Daniel R. Vellenga, Waco, TX by the day-to-day activities of the Christian Samuel and Corinne Bosch, Portland, OR Dr. and Mrs. William Venema, Grand Rapids, MI Reformed Church, its institutions, commu- David and Mary Bosscher, Zeeland, MI Mr. Ted W. Vliek, Portage, MI nities and people. We invite you to support the continued publication of Origins by John and Sharon Bouma, Holland, MI Wilbert and Berendina Wichers, Bradenton, FL becoming “Friends of the Archives.” Sid and Virginia Bouma, Visalia, CA Mr. and Mrs. Teunis Witte, Byron Center, MI John and Beth Bouws, Holland, MI Dr. Burton and Ellen Wolters, Spring Lake, MI Connie and Roger Brummel, Holland, MI Mr. and Mrs. F. A. Wybenga, Tallmadge, OH Enabling Contributor Mr. and Mrs. Conrad J. Bult, Grand Rapids, MI Mr. and Mrs. Jay L. Zandstra, Highland, IN Mr. and Mrs. John Meyer, Palos Park, IL Mr. and Mrs. John Buursma, Holland, MI Mary Zwaanstra, Grand Rapids, MI Dr. and Mrs. James A. De Jong, Grand Rapids, MI Friends of the Archives Jan and Jeannie de Vries, Berkeley, CA Contributing Members Endowment Fund Builders Mark and Ginny Dykstra, South Holland, IL David and Rene Baatenburg, Jenison, MI AEGON Insurance Group, Cedar Rapids, IA John H. and Marcia R. Evenhouse, Westmont, IL Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Bajema, Grand Rapids, MI Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth J. Baas, Grand Rapids, MI James and Rosemarie Evenhuis, Novi, MI John and Maria Bajema, Lowell, MI Robert and Jane Baker Foundation, Kalamazoo, MI Martin and Helon Everse, Birmingham, AL Richard and Cynthia G. Bandstra, Grand Rapids, MI Mr. Duane D. Binns, Oak Park, IL David and Connie Fennema, Durham, NC Dr. and Mrs. John D. Beebe, Alto, MI Mr. and Mrs. Roger W. Boer, Grand Rapids, MI Dr. and Mrs. David Holkeboer, Jenison, MI Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth J. Betten, Kalamazoo, MI Dr. and Mrs. Richard H. Harms, Grand Rapids, MI Les and Viv Hoogland, Zeeland, MI Dr. and Mrs. Allan Bishop, Ripon, CA Holland American Wafer Company, Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth A. Hoving, Oak Brook, IL Mr. and Mrs. Henry Boersma, Marne, MI Grand Rapids, MI Rich and Carla Huizenga, Seattle, WA Harry and Thelma Boonstra, Grand Rapids, MI Mr. and Mrs. Peter Huizenga, Oak Brook, IL Herb and Bernace Korthuis, Lynden, WA Carl and Elizabeth Botting, Ada, MI Dr. William Huizingh, Scottsdale, AZ Lois and Jack Kuipers, Grand Rapids, MI Ralph G. Bouma, Rockford, MI Estate of Dick and Dena Kortenhoeven, Highland, IN Mrs. Nellie Lucas, Grand Rapids, MI Dr. and Mrs. Harvey J. Bratt, Grand Rapids, MI Meijer, Inc., Grand Rapids, MI Mr. and Mrs. Graydon M. Meints, Kalamazoo, MI Mr s. Ruth E. Brinks, Grand Rapids, MI Mr. Gerald W. Meyering, Denver, CO Mr. and Mrs. William Noordhof, Lacombe, AB Dr. and Mrs. Herman H. Broene, Grand Rapids, MI Drs. Kornelis J. Storm, Aerdenhout, the Netherlands Mr. and Mrs. Chris Overvoorde, Grand Rapids, MI Ralph A. and Elaine A. Bruxvoort, Bloomer, WI Jay and Betty Van Andel Foundation, Grand Rapids, MI Ms. Evelyn A. Pastoor, Grand Rapids, MI Jacob and Sandra Bulthuis, La Grange, IL Mr. and Mrs. Claude J. Venema, Jackson, MI Ms. Tietje Piera, Calgary, AB Peter and Milly Buma, Grand Rapids, MI Mr. and Mrs. Gary J. Vermeer, Pella, IA Mr. Roger Riewald, Thousand Oaks, CA Wayne and Greta Clousing, Shoreline, WA Mr. and Mrs. A. Charles Schaap, Holland, MI Mr. and Mrs. Stuart E. Cok, Sparta, MI Contributing Founders Kathryn R. Schlamm, Lynden, WA Mr. and Mrs. Ronald W. Corstange, Hudsonville, MI Mr. and Mrs. Richard T. Dykema, Laurel, MD Mr. and Mrs. P. John Shooks, Grand Rapids, MI Dr. Ivan E. Danhof, Grand Prairie, TX Mr. and Mrs. Bastian A. Knoppers, Oak Brook, IL John and Eunice Stegink, Caledonia, MI Dr. and Mrs. W. P. De Boer, Grand Rapids, MI Peters Import Marketplace, Grandville, MI Henry and Evelyn Stevens, Tucson, AZ Robert L. and Frances De Bruin, Mt. Pleasant, MI Mr. and Mrs. Leo Peters, Grand Rapids, MI Dr. and Mrs. Robert P. Swierenga, Holland, MI Mr. Ronald De Valois, Lynden, WA Clara and Leonard Sweetman, Kentwood, MI Bill and Judy Terpstra, Schererville, IN Dr. Daniel and Marian De Vries, Grand Rapids, MI Mr. and Mrs. Max B. Van Wyk, Grand Rapids, MI Mr. and Mrs. John C. Vander Haag, Sanborn, IA Ms. Barbara DeWitt, Grand Rapids, MI

47 Henry and Shirley De Witt, Chino, CA Mr. and Mrs. Peter Kiemel, Colorado Springs, CO Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth J. Van Dellen, Grosse Pointe Park, MI Mr. and Mrs. Henry Docter, Ontario, CA Mr. John E. King, Wyckoff, NJ Mr. and Mrs. Richard Vandenakker, Ripon, CA James W. Doezema, Grand Rapids, MI Dr. and Mrs. Simon J, Kistemaker, Oviedo, FL Roger and Joyce Vanden Bosch, Zeeland, MI Rev. and Mrs. Sidney Draayer, Grand Rapids, MI Mr. and Mrs. Maynard Klamer, Byron Center, MI Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Vander Ark, Grand Rapids, MI Mr. and Mrs. Robert Dykstra, Holland, MI Mr. and Mrs. Martin O. Kloet, Simcoe, ON John and Jane Vander Heide, Grand Haven, MI Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth D. Engelsman, Centennial, CO Chaplain Louis and Frances Kok, Lynden, WA Dr. Stanley Vander Klay, Whitinsville, MA Phil and Trudy Erffmeyer, Prinsburg, MN Mr. and Mrs. Andrew R. Kooistra, Grand Rapids, MI Jan and Gary Vander Meer, DeKalb, IL Mr. and Mrs. Robert Essenburg, Grandville, MI Rev. John M. V. Koole, Strathroy, ON John and Donna Vander Meer, Grand Rapids, MI Roger and Evelyn Feikema, Bradenton, FL Ms. Ardene Lambers, Grand Rapids, MI Dr. and Mrs. Ron Vander Molen, Modesto, CA Harold and Nancy Gazan, Holland, MI Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Mast, Jenison, MI Evie and Al Vander Plaats, Sun City, AZ Dr. and Mrs. Samuel E. Greydanus, Saugatuck, MI Mr. Harold Mast, Kentwood, MI Mr. and Mrs. Brian Vander Ploeg, Lake Oswego, OR Mr. and Mrs. Albert J. Griede, La Mesa, CA Mr. Gerald Meyer, Holland, MI Dr. and Mrs. Eugene Vander Wall, Citrus Heights, CA Astrid and Mike Griffi n, Chattanooga, TN Herman and Marti Minnema, Visalia, CA Dr. and Mrs. Gerald L. Vander Wall, Mrs. Wendlena Groen, Manteca, CA James E. and Janice S. Monsma, Medford, MA Grand Haven, MI Carl and Sandy Gronsman, Grand Rapids, MI Dr. and Mrs. Richard Mouw, La Canada, CA Dr. Steve J. Van Der Weele, Grand Rapids, MI Mr. and Mrs. Andrew J. Haagsma, Grandville, MI Mrs. Marian Mulder, Grand Rapids, MI Jan and Adriana Vanderwerf, Mosinee, Wisconsin Dirk and Gladys Hoek, Modesto, CA Tom and Greta, Newhof, Ada, MI Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Van Dokkenburg, Caroline and Henry J. Hoeks, Ada, MI Mr. and Mrs. David Ondersma, Holland, MI West Lafayette, IN Dr. Paul D. and Mrs. Hoeksema, Holland, MI Mrs. Hilda Ormel, Abbotsford, BC Dr. John Van Domelen, College Station, TX Bill and Caroline Hoekstra, Oakdale, CA Mr. and Mrs. Neal Peters, Hudsonville, MI Catherine Van Eck, Lansing, IL Ms. Kay Hoitenga, Grand Rapids, MI Quentin and Harriet Remein, Bethesda, MD Dr. Dick and Carol Van Eldik, Gainsville, FL Jim and Barb Hoogeboom, Grand Rapids, MI Dr. Frank and Mrs. Doris Roberts, Grand Rapids, MI Dr. and Mrs. Larry Van Genderen, Jackson, WY Dr. Richard E. and Alyce Houskamp, Ada, MI Al and Rika Scheenstra, Chino Hills, CA Mr. Art Van Groningen, Ripon, CA Robert and Joan Houskamp, Grand Rapids, MI William and Shirley Scholten, Lynden, WA Mr. and Mrs. Henry Van Mouwerik, Redlands, CA Dr. and Mrs. Harvey D. Huiner, Lynchburg, VA Al and Mary Scholtens, Caledonia, MI Mr. Carl J. Van’t Hof, Tinley Park, IL Harold and Esther Huizenga, Grand Rapids, MI Ben and Henny Senneker, Lethbridge, AB Mr. and Mrs. Richard J. Van Tuinen, Longmont, CO Dr. C. J. Huizinga, Jenison, MI Carl and Cora Mae Sinke, Grand Rapids, MI Dr. and Mrs. Peter D. Van Vliet, Grand Rapids, MI Rich and Jane Iwema, Caledonia, MI Dr. and Mrs. Richard D. Sjoerdsma, Racine, WI Mr. and Mrs. Andrew J. Verhoeven, Visalia, CA Ralph and Elaine Jaarsma, Pella, IA Bernard and Melinda Smit, Lafayette, IN Mr. Evert Volkersz, Stony Brook, NY Miss Rita Jager, Edmonton, AB Mr. and Mrs. Albert Snippe, Belwood, ON Bill and Pat Waanders, Grand Rapids, MI Glenn R. Jasperse, Sheboygan, WI Dr. and Mrs. LeRoy Stegink, Grand Rapids, MI Mr. and Mrs. Philip Wassenar, Uxbridge, MA Ms. Mary E. Jellema, Holland, MI Dr. Joseph C. Stevens, New Haven, CT Dave and Brenda Wiersma, Tucson, AZ Mr. John Kamp, Holland, MI Richard and Joyce Stienstra, Okemos, MI Rev. and Mrs. Donald P. Wisse, Wyckoff, NJ Dr. and Mrs. John R. Kamps, Gallup, NM Mr. and Mrs. Peter Sytsma, Holland, MI Mr. and Mrs. Bernard H. Zandstra, Holt, MI Chaplain and Mrs. Herm Keizer, Caledonia, MI Mr. and Mrs. Gerald A. Talen, Tucson, AZ Kenneth and Elaine Zimmerman, Woodstock, MD Rev. Harvey A. Kiekover, Grand Rapids, MI Mr. and Mrs. Ronald J. Talsma, Bellfl ower, CA David and Cresta Zwart, Sioux Center, IA Hessel and Alice Kielstra, Calgary, AB Gil and Joanne Van Baren, South Holland, IL

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 XXIX • Number 2 • 2011