Emigrants from Aalten to the US
Gerrit Jan Hilbelink was born on 19 February 1813 on the Lensink farm in IJzerlo, the son of Arend Jan Hilbelink (1787–1865) and Hendrika Hoopman. On 1 October 1840 he married Garritjen te Bokkel, born on 27 February 1820 on the Groot Tammel farm in Lintelo, daughter of aren’t Jan Derk te Bokkel and Janna Tammel.
Emigration and settling in Holland Township
In August 1847, the Hilbelink family left Rotterdam for the United States. After a crossing of about four weeks, they arrived on Staten Island. From there they traveled on via Buffalo and the Great Lakes to Sheboygan (Wisconsin). They stayed there for only one night, and the next day they travelled by ox-cart to Holland Township, where they settled in section 27, on a piece of land that later became the property of Gerrit Jan te Lindert. They lived on this farm for about nine years.
At the time, the area still consisted entirely of pristine forest, inhabited by wild animals such as wolves, bears and deer. The first years were tough: the land had to be completely reclaimed. There were few neighbors, although there was regular contact with the local indigenous population. In these rough conditions, Gerrit Jan and Garritjen built a new life.
In 1853, Gerrit Jan’s father also followed the family to America. He settled in Lima, where he spent the last years of his life.
Farm and community
In 1850, Gerrit Jan bought a piece of land of 40 acres (about 16 hectares) in section 26, where the family settled. The site was again densely wooded and had to be completely reclaimed. They built a log cabin in which their children grew up. He later expanded his holdings by another 40 acres. Although he later sold part of it, it grew into a well-functioning farm with a house and several barns. Gerrit Jan also contributed to the development of local infrastructure, such as roads, and other facilities.
Offspring
Gerrit Jan and Garritjen had fourteen children together, four of whom were born in the Netherlands and ten in the United States. The four children born in the Netherlands died at a young age, as did one of the children in America. Nine children reached adulthood:
- Hendrika (1849) married aren’t Jan Rensing in Newkirk, Iowa
- Aren Jan Derk (1850) managed the parental business, married Janna Gesiena Sikkink
- Jan William (1853), carpenter in Newkirk, married Agnes Koolbeck
- Jane (1855), married Derk Rose
- Grada Gesina (born 1856), married Tony Walvoord
- Gerrit Jan Jr. (1858), carpenter in Milwaukee, married Jane Smies
- Hannah (1860), married John W. Rauwerdink, farmer in Holland Township
- Gertie (1863), married Jacob Leenhouse, carpenter in Milwaukee
- Aleida (1866), married Gabe Ringoldus, also in Milwaukee
Community and death
Gerrit Jan and Garritjen were members of the Dutch Reformed Church in Cedar Grove, and were among the first members of this congregation. Politically, Gerrit Jan was a supporter of the Republican Party.
In 1894 Gerrit Jan and Garritjen were respectively 80 and 73 years old. Both were then in good physical and mental health, enjoying the fruits of their long and hard lives as pioneers in the New World.
Gerrit Jan Hilbelink died on 17 April 1898, his wife Garritjen on 5 April 1912. Both were buried in Cedar Grove Cemetery.
