| Name |
Vandenbroek, Theodore J. |
| Prefix |
Reverend |
| Suffix |
O.P. |
| Birth |
5 Nov 1783 |
Amsterdam, , Noord-Holland, Netherlands  |
| Gender |
Male |
| Religious Vows |
Aft 1801 |
| Immigration |
Abt Sep 1832 |
Baltimore, Baltimore (City), Maryland, USA |
 Stationed at |
Between Jul 1834 and Apr 1851 |
St. John Catholic Church, Little Chute, Wisconsin, USA |
| Pastor |
 |
St. John Catholic Church, Little Chute, Wisconsin
|
| Moved |
4 Jul 1834 |
, Brown County, Wisconsin, USA |
| 1846 Census |
1846 |
Kaukalin, Brown, Wisconsin, USA |
| Page 02, Line 01 |
|
 |
1846 Census Wisconsin Territory, Page 2
Brown County |
| Naturalization |
28 Jun 1847 |
, Brown County, Wisconsin, USA |
 |
VandenBroek, Rev. Theodore
Naturalization Record (Documents) |
| Immigration |
9 May 1848 |
New York, New York, New York, USA |
| on the Maria Magdelena from Rotterdam Line 139 on 3/29/1848 |
- This is not technically Rev. VandenBroek immigration record, but is included to show him on the Maria Magdelena as a passenger leading this group of Dutch Immigrants to Little Chute Wisconsin. His original immigration from the Netherlands to the United States was in Sept of 1832.
|
| 1850 Census |
1850 |
Kaukalin, Brown, Wisconsin, USA |
| page 145, line 17 |
 |
1850 Census Kaukalin Page 145
Brown County, Wisconsin |
| Biography |
 |
First Dutch Catholics in Brown County
History |
| Death |
5 Nov 1851 |
Little Chute, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA |
| Burial |
Aft 5 Nov 1851 |
St. John Catholic Cemetery, Little Chute, Wisconsin, USA |
| News Mention |
6 Jan 1898 |
| Kaukauna Times |
- Kaukauna Times Kaukauna, WI January 6, 1898
J. C. VAN NEIL DEADThe death of J. C. VAN NIEL, one of the oldest settlers in this section,occurred Friday last, at his home in Little chute, aged 83 years. Mr. VANNEIL had been gradually failing for the pat year. he came to Little Chutewith the three sail shop loads of Hollanders brought to America by Fath er VANDEN BROCK, the early pioneer priest of the Fox River Valley He was quire ascholar, having once prepared himself for the priesthood, and was also not edas an antiquarian. in the early days of Little Chute Mr. VAN NEIL was quit eprominent in a business way in that place. He opened up an extensive stonequarry about the time of the construction of the canal and locks of the Fo xRiver Improvement company. A large wood yard where he handled many thousan dsof cords each year was also run by him. Another enterprise was a warehou se toaccommodate the traffic of the steamboats then plying up and down the Fox river. In after years, however, his time was taken up with more congenialemployments. At one time he owned the only Catholic book store in the stat e,having in stock several thousand volumes of books. This was destroyed by f irein 1872, only a few books about 100 being saved. These, however, were amon gthe choicest of his collection, on of which is now over 250 years old. Theloss of his books was a sad blow to Mr. VAN NEIL and to the day of his dea th he had not ceased to mourn the loss. At one side of his home and just in front stands an altar which has beenviewed by perhaps hundreds of people, many of whom however failed to learnmuch of it's origin. According to the Latin inscription which surmounts it ,it was built over two score years ago, by Mr. VAN NEIL under the directi on ofFather T. J. VAN DEN BROCK. here the native Indian was led by this Hollandpriest to worship, and also here came processions from St. John's church f orthe same purpose. This custom however has long since give way to more mode rnusages. Leading out from the cellar of his house is an underground passagewhich ends in what was at an early day a distillery. The cobblestone chimn eyinto which led the iron pipes of the still yet stands. The building for ma nyyears has been used by it's owner as a curiosity shop. Here are stored qua intand curious articles, old books, relics, etc., too numerous to mention. Th ewhip saw, once used by Father VAN DEN BROCK's own hands to cut boards fromthe logs of the forest, with the assistance of his only companions, thenative Indians; the draw shave used by him in making shingles, and othertools used in the construction of the first primitive church in Little Chu te,have been religiously preserved by this lifelong friend of the early pione er priest. Among the treasures kept by him of those early days is a high silk hatpurchased by Father VAN DEN BROCK in Holland just before starting for Amer icathe first time in 1833. It has a wide rim and bell crown, the material bei ngvery fine, and enough of the same to make two high hats of today's styl e. Hehas also other old style silk hates of several later dates, and a longbroadcloth cloak reaching to the ground, which also was a gift from his ol dfriend the Holland priest. Mr. VAN NEIL has often proudly worn these ancie ntarticles in public, and has more than once been photographed while thus arrayed. The story of those early days, as told by J. C. VAN NEIL to a representati veof The Times during the last year of his life sounds like a romance, andcould it all have been written, it would be intensely interesting. When helanded at Little Chute dense forests covered he whole country. A trip toAppleton and return often took his pioneer two days by the only road, anIndian trail. The way led in and out through the forests, wading at timesthrough deep marshes and woods, climbing over windfalls, which often almos tentirely blocked the way, the few miles intervening was a serious job toundertake. A widow, the second wife of Mr. VAN NEIL survives him. The deceased was buried Monday morning at nine o'clock from St. John's chu rch Father KNEGTEL conducting the ceremonies
|
| News Mention |
10 Feb 1906 |
| Appleton Post Crescent |
|
| Reference Number |
4291 |
| Person ID |
I312161 |
1FamilyTree |
| Last Modified |
2 Sep 2018 |
1783 - 1851 (68 years)
