- VERBAKEL/HENDRICKS FAMILY HISTORY, from Helen Margaret Esler Mullen, 1967
(Typed as written, corrections by Frances Biersteker in [ ], additions from Fay Hendricks * )
My maternal grandmother, Antonia VandenBoom (called Tonia by her friends) was born March 2 [3], 1845 [1843] in Gemert [Bakel], North Brabant, Holland. She was the daughter of Antone [Johannes van den Boom] VandenBoom and Dora [Dorothea] (*Theodora) Slaats. She had two sisters and one brother. (*Sister Huiberdina "Berdina" van den Boom married John Verbockel/Verbakel and moved to Kaukauna WI before 1872. They had 2 daughters and 2 sons, listed below. Brother Antonij "Tonie) b. 3 July 1836 Bakel, m. 23 Apr. 1869 to Anna Maria van Veghel and had 3 daughters: Theodora "Dorothea, Petronella, Johanna Maria, and son Godefridus. Brother Theodorus (Dorus) b. 27 Dec. 1840 Bakel, d. 2 Feb. 1841)
Her first husband, George Verbockel, was born in Araph [Veghel], Holland [3-1-1836 *1 Mar.]. In August [8 or *9] 1868, a daughter Mary [named Geertruda Maria] was born to them, followed by John (*Johannes Theodorus) in 1870 [10-18-1870 *18 Oct.] and another son, in perhaps 1873 whose name we do not know [crossed out and replaced with Antonia born 10-23-1872].
Why they decided to come to America, we don't know, although we suspect it was because one of her sisters was here. She (again the name is missing *Huiberdina) was married to (? *John) Verbockel (the degree of relationship to George isn't known). This family lived in Kaukauna. They had four children -- Annie (Huiting) Dora (Baruth) George and Martin. [all these names crossed out]
George and Antonia left Holland in 1873 [12-10-1872 *10 Dec/]. Their baby, then three [two] months old, died during the long and arduous crossing, which took six weeks. He was buried when they landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
The young family came West to Bay Settlement, Wisconsin. Again we wonder why they came here. I am only conjecturing, but many people of Belgian descent live in this area, as is indicated by some of the place names, such as Brussels and Namur. North Brabant is the southernmost province of the Netherlands and is close to Belgium. It is possible that they had friends there, or that they came with others who knew about the place. Bay Settlement is a picturesque village on a bluff, a few miles northeast of Green Bay overlooking the bay.
Two more children were born to them, Antone [Jim's grandfather] on May 27, 1874 and Joseph on February 27, 1876. When Joseph was nine months old, his father died. Grandmother was left with four small children.
Sometime in 1878, Grandmother was introduced to John Hendricks by some friends in Green Bay. (He was a widower -- had been married seventeen [years] -- had no children) They met on Saturday, & were together again on Sunday. On Monday she had to go to Bay Settlement on business, and Mr. Hendricks asked to take her. He wanted to visit Father Daems, an old friend of his. Grandmother decided to visit the priest also, as he had been a friend and neighbor for three or four years. He married them that day.
I am told that he (Father Daems) whole-heartedly sanctioned this marriage, in fact, that he suggested it. He liked both of them and he worried about Grandmother's tremendous task of raising her children alone.
We know very little about Grandfather Hendricks background, other than he was born on January 14, 1834 in Uden [crossed out], North Brabant, Holland. He was small of stature, quiet with a peaceful nature. My mother recalls his kindness and gentleness. His stepchildren attested to his good nature. Aunt Dora [I have information from Holland on this also] says that he was a carpenter, by trade. He was a clever craftsman. The old homestead, on Beaulieu Hill, in Kaukauna, now owned by grand-daughter, Mrs. Earl Sanders, was built by him. In addition he built much of the household furniture. He was expert at knitting, making mittens, caps and socks. Grandmother had a spinning wheel and spun all of the yarn. He liked to walk. Maggie, my mother, tells of their walking to Apple Creek, a distance of at least ten miles, every summer, to visit some old friends, the Heesakkers. He would take Dora, Henry and Maggie; the older children were working. The visit would last for a few days, and then the long walk home. On occasion they'd take the train -- both ways, but the train only took them as far as Appleton.
Grandmother, in contrast to her husband was more positive, lively and spirited, with a good sense of humor.
The family moved to Grandfather's farm in Grand Chute, near Appleton where Catherine (Kate) was born in October 1879. John Henry (Hank) was born on Christmas Day 1883, followed by Georgianna Margaret (Maggie) on Mar. 10, 1885. These children were baptized at St. John's in Little Chute.
When Maggie was small they moved to Wrightstown, where Grandfather bought a farm. Here Theodora (Dora) was born on January 19, 1888.
In 1891 they moved to Kaukauna. They desired to have a home near St. Mary's on the South side of the river, but Grandmother's sister wanted them to be closer to her on Beaulieu Hill. So they moved to the "Hill." The children entered St. Marys School. Grandmother's sister died shortly after.
The Hendricks rented a home on the Hill, until Grandfather completed building their own. Meanwhile Aunt Mary married John Giesbers, a young man she had met in Wrightstown. They built a house next to the Hendricks.
The four older children used the Hendricks name. When Uncle John married Theresa Reichel, Grandmother insisted that he use his correct name of Verbockel. She died before Joseph and Antone were married. They kept the name of Hendricks. This explains our Hendricks and Verbockel cousins.
Grandmother died May 27, 1901 and Grandfather on Mar. 19, 1914. Both are buried in St. Mary's Cemetery in Kaukauna.
This genealogy is fragmentary, and provokes many questions. I have gathered bits of information through the years from many people, but Aunt Mary Giesbers, being the oldest remembered most. My Mother, Aunt Dora and Uncle Joe filled in many spaces.
I researched a little and found some information on Father Daems.
"The striking black and white garb of the Criosier Fathers is now seldom seen in the Green Bay Diocese. Yet it was a member of this old order who was the first Vicar General of the Diocese, and other members of the order were some of the first priests to work among the people in Manitowoc Rapids and Little Chute.
"The first Vicar General of the Diocese of Green Bay was Father Edward Daems, O.S.C. He spent most of his priestly life at work in Bay Settlement and sought in vain to establish a permanent house of his order there. He did succeed in founding the Franciscan Sisters of the Holy Cross of Bay Settlement, however, and their work in the Green Bay Diocese is a memorial to the labors of the early Crosier Fathers.
"The Crosier Fathers are more than 750 years old having been founded in Liege, France in 1210 by Theodore de Celles. The order's emblem is a red and white crusader's cross, which is worn on the garb to this day."
From "The Green Bay Register"
Father Daems died in 1879."
Mary married John Giesbers and had nine children
John married Theresa Reichel and had eight children
Antone married Anna Shimek and had ten children
Joseph married Anna Dietzler and had two children [two crossed out, 3 written in]
Joseph 2nd marriage to Leonore Boser had three children [2]
[children from 1st marriage]
Kate married Frank Gerz and had eight cildren
Henry married Iva Thomas and had ten children
Margaret [my Mom] married John Esler and had nine children
Dora married Jacob Gertz and had five children
[second marriage]
[Frank & Jacob Gertz were brothers]
Helen Margaret Esler Mullen
January 9th, 1967
* In 1990 Mrs. Fran Biersteker sent me a letter from "W. H. Cornelissen, rayonarchivaris", of Rayon Veghel, Postbus 340, 5460 AH Beghel, Telefoon 04130-42429. Bezoekadres: Gemeentehuis, Markt 1, Veghel, stating: Gerardus Verbakel was born 1.3.1836 in Veghel, married 14.9.1876 in Uden, by profession basketweaver, son of Lucas Verbakel and Geertruda Hurkmans. He married Antonia van den Boom, born 2.3.1843 in Bakel, daughter of Johannes van den Boom and Dorothea Slaats. Mr. and Mrs. Verbakel-Van den Boom moved from Uden to Veghel on 13.5.1868. Their children are born there. Geertruda Maria, born 9.8.1868. Johannes Theodorus, born 18.10.1870. Antonius, born 23.10.1872. On 19.12.1872 the family emigrated to North-America.
Mr. Cornelissen attached a copy of the central register of population, which Mrs. Biersteker has. She also sent me Family Group worksheets (in hopes I could fill in the blanks from this clan) that included the information:
Antone Verbockel (Hendricks) born 27 May 1874 Bay Settlement, married 25 June 1901 Menasha, died 15 July 1930 Antigo, occupation Tavern-Farming, church Catholic, military none. His father Gerardus Berbakel, Mother's maiden name Antonia van den Boom. Wife's maiden name Anna *Shimek (Schmick), born 11 March 1875 Menasha, death 1 Dec. 1949 Antigo, occupation housewife, Catholic. Her father Michael Schmick (*Shimek), mother's maiden name Catherine Kujewski.
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1843 - 1901 (58 years)
Biography
