{"id":140651,"date":"1847-08-01T19:39:00","date_gmt":"1847-08-01T17:39:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oudaalten.nl\/niet-gecategoriseerd\/pioneers-in-wisconsin-stunks\/"},"modified":"2026-04-09T23:33:51","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T21:33:51","slug":"pioneers-in-wisconsin-stunks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oldaalten.nl\/en\/emigration\/usa\/pioneers-in-wisconsin-stunks\/","title":{"rendered":"Pioneers in Wisconsin \u2013 Stronks"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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

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

In the 19th century, thousands of Achterhoekers emigrated to the United States in search of land, freedom and new opportunities. Among them was the Stronks family from Dale. They were among the early European pioneers who settled in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jan Willem Stronks was born on April 27, 1817 on the Brunink farm in Dale<\/a>, as the son of Garrit Jan Stronks and Garritjen Graven. In 1846 he emigrated to the United States. Jan Willem initially had insufficient means to travel on to the west, and therefore worked temporarily in the workshops of the railroads in Schenectady, New York. Shortly afterwards he moved on to Wisconsin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There he met Grada Snoeijenbosch, also from Aalten. Grada was born on February 21, 1825 on the Snoeijenbosch farm on the Haart<\/a>, as the daughter of Harmen Snoeijenbosch<\/a> and Elizabeth Winkelhorst<\/a>. In 1847 she came to Sheboygan with her family. Around 1850 Jan Willem and Grada married. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As one of the first Dutch pioneers, they settled in Holland Township, where they bought twenty acres (about eight hectares) of forest land. The plot was still completely undeveloped. Through hard work and thrift, Jan Willem managed to work his way up to become a prosperous farmer. However, his health suffered greatly from the physical labor, and he died in 1883 at the age of 64. Grada died in 1898 at the age of 73. Both were faithful members of the Dutch Reformed Church. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A new life for the children<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Of their nine children, three died at a young age. Six children reached adulthood: <\/p>\n\n\n\n