{"id":140605,"date":"1869-09-01T12:04:00","date_gmt":"1869-09-01T10:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oudaalten.nl\/niet-gecategoriseerd\/pioneers-in-wisconsin-huinink\/"},"modified":"2026-04-09T23:45:19","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T21:45:19","slug":"pioneers-in-wisconsin-huinink","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oldaalten.nl\/en\/emigration\/usa\/pioneers-in-wisconsin-huinink\/","title":{"rendered":"Pioneers in Wisconsin \u2013 Huinink"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Emigrants from Aalten to the US<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

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In the 19th century, thousands of Achterhoekers emigrated to the United States in search of land, freedom and new opportunities. Among them was the Huinink family from Dale. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Derk\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>
Derk Willem Huinink and Catharina Jentink (photo: Dutch Genealogy)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Derk Willem Huinink was born on March 9, 1827 on the farm the (Oude) Maas<\/a> in the rural district of Dale in Aalten. He was a son of Jan Berend Huinink and Berendina Heesen. His father initially worked as a teacher, but later switched to farming. The couple had five sons and two daughters. Mother Berendina died on August 1, 1848. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Derk Willem attended primary school and helped on the parental property. At the age of seventeen he learned the weaver’s trade, which he combined with work on the farm for ten years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 28 May 1858 he married Catharina Jentink, daughter of Hendrik Jan Jentink and Dora Hendrika Lammers. She was also born in Dale, on November 20, 1834. She was one of ten children, four sons and six daughters, six of whom emigrated with their parents to the New World. The Jentink family settled in Lima, Wisconsin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Derk Willem’s sister, Janna Willemina Huinink, married Jan Berend Schepers on the same day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Emigration to America<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In the summer of 1869, Derk Willem, his father, wife and children left via Liverpool on the steamship Nestorian<\/a> to North America. After eleven days, they arrived in Quebec and traveled on to Sheboygan County. On July 25, they reached Amsterdam (Sheboygan County). In the spring of 1870, Huinink bought 72 acres (29 hectares) of land in section 19 for $2,000. Later he added another 5 acres (2 hectares). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Map\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>
Map of Holland Township, Sheboygan, 1889 (image: University of Wisconsin\u2013Madison)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Family life and work<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Derk Willem and his wife built up a thriving farm with hard work. They had nine children: <\/p>\n\n\n\n