Family:Hermannus Gruppen and Henrietta Hessels (1)

Watchers
Facts and Events
Marriage? 1890 Echteler, Duitsland_DATE: 1890 civil
Children
BirthDeath
1.
12 Jan 1891
3 May 1967
2.
Apr 1893
10 Feb 1981
3.
27 Mar 1895
3 May 1984
4.
14 Feb 1897
6 Jan 1972
5.
14 Feb 1899
22 May 1985
6.
3 Nov 1900
 
7.
13 Dec 1903
 
8.
5 Nov 1905
15 Jul 1980
9.
Abt 1909
 
10.
Est 1909
 
11.
Abt 1912
 
12.

[1]

References
  1.   http://www.muldermedia.com/roots/INDIs/II124.html
    After marrying Henrietta in 1890, Hermanus realized he would be unable to support a family in Germany. With Henrietta pregnant with their third child and an invitation from friend G.J. Rutgers in Michigan, they boarded the ship Edam bound from Rotterdam to New York, arriving 11 Sept 1893 (passenger list). They left behind his brother Gerrit, whose later wealth caused discord between the brothers, who did not speak or write for years.

    The family had almost nothing when they arrived in America, and first lived with the Rutgers in Graafschap, MI (map of farm). They then rented a farm a couple of miles away, possibly where the white house stands on Rutgers' land south of Graafschap.

    Around 1909 they relocated to a 120-acre farm in Blendon Township, MI, where Hermanus, also a stonemason, built their new house (map of farm). They grew celery and onion and had some cows and chickens, but remained quite poor. One year the entire crop bought only two winter coats for the family. Much of the clothing was sewed from feed sacks. Hardship continued when another farmer, to save his own crop from flooding, blocked ditches and flooded the family's onion fields three years in a row, ruining most of the crop.

    Henrietta was a colder, heavier woman in later years who grew emotionally unstable and times. Later in life they moved in with their daughter Johanna's family, where she later died.

    Henrietta is buried in Borculo Cemetery next to her husband.