Divorces in my Ancestry

Divorce is a tragic thing whenever it happens. Sadly, many people also believe that divorce is mostly a modern thing. Not true! I have found many divorces in my ancestry, several in the 1900s, among pious religious folk! Here is a list of the divorces I've found in my family tree:

• Brian Keith Winn, my father: Divorced his first wife, LIVING (possibly) on May 10, 1985.
• Luther Allen Saddler Jr., paternal grandfather: Divorced his first wife, Helen May Saunders, on December 17, 1947 in Princeton, West Virginia. He also divorced his third wife, Betty Irene VanDeCreek, around 1965. 
• (LIVING), paternal grandmother: Divorced her first husband, Gary Wayne Biggs, around 1974.
• Luther Allen Saddler Sr. and Mary Roberta Morris, great-grandparents: Date of divorce is not known. In fact it is only known that they divorced, nothing more. 
• John Washington Winn Jr. and Ethel Clemons, great-grandparents: Divorced around 1967 in Michigan due to my great-grandfather's infidelity. 
• Ethel Clemons, great-grandmother: Divorced all three of her other husbands besides my great-grandfather. Her first marriage, when she was a teenager, was annulled due to her age. Then she divorced her second husband, Prentice Franklin Reeves, in 1946 in Polk County, Florida, so she could remarry to my great-grandfather. And third, she divorced her final husband, Edward Eugene Betz. 
• John Washington Winn Sr. and Lula Lavene Benton, great-great grandparents: Divorced in 1939 in Polk County, Florida. Several details make this divorce pretty interesting to me. Firstly, their divorce suit was filed in Polk County on June 13, in Circuit Court. On that same day, Lula filed an SS-5 stating that she was living in Ormond Beach, Florida, which is in Volusia County. Probably the couple had separated and then filed for divorce. Less then two weeks after they filed for divorce, John remarried to Lillian Hart in Flagler County, Florida on June 26. I don't know when the divorce was granted, or how long they had to wait for John and Lillian to marry, but all of this information adds more questions then it answers. They may have divorced due to Lula's supposed mental issues. It seems after the divorce she went to live with her brother Norton in Cayce, South Carolina. Another fact: according to memories of my great-aunt, my great-grandfather John Washington Winn Jr. just came home one day and his mother was gone. The circumstances and details of this divorce lead me to wonder what exactly was going on in the family at this time. 
• Jan Peter Huyser, great-great grandfather: Apparently divorced two of his wives; firstly, on September 29, 1922, Jacoba de Kok, who was the widow of Isaac Cappon, the first Mayor of Holland, Michigan; and secondly, from his wife Carolyn, on August 29, 1928, in Ottawa County. The first divorce probably indirectly led to my great-grandparents meeting, because the church that JPH was attending, Third Reformed Church of Holland, asked him not to receive communion because of the divorce, so he began attending First Reformed Church of Holland, where my great-grandparents met. The divorce from Jacoba was granted to him because of desertion, while the divorce from Carolyn was granted to him, the libellant, due to "extreme and repeated cruelty". In both cases, JPH filed for the divorce. 
• Fred Edwin Wise Sr., great-great grandfather: Divorced his first wife, Mae Eva Little, on February 7, 1911 in Michigan. The divorce was filed by Fred, due to desertion. 
• William Reiner Harkema and Jennie Grote, 3rd great grandparents: Divorced on February 8, 1912. The divorce was filed by William, due to Jennie's "extreme and repeated cruelty". This seems very uncharacteristic of the woman that my beloved grandma visited as a young girl, and deepens my fascination with my grandmother's family. 
• William Reiner Harkema, 3rd great grandfather: Divorced his second wife, Vernelia Elma Tuttle, on August 3, 1942 in Kent County, Michigan. According to the record, this divorce was granted to the wife due to desertion. From a victim of cruelty, to deserting his second wife. William Reiner Harkema was such a fascinating person, although I have no photos of him.

This list is obviously not exhaustive. It doesn't include, for example, the many separations and annulments that occurred in my medieval royal and noble ancestry. For example, Eleanor of Aquitaine's annulment from King Louis VII of France (I descend from both of Eleanor's marriages) and Earl Richard de Arundel's divorce from Isabel le Despenser (I descend from both of his marriages). 

Document Decoding: Fred Wise and Jeanette Harkema's Church Transfer

In the Protestant world, church transfers are nothing unusual. It was a custom, at least to my maternal grandfather's generation, to marry in the wife's church. That's why my grandparents married in the Methodist Church, despite my grandfather being RCA. When Protestant families moved, they often had to switch congregations. In or around 1923, my great-great grandparents Fred Edwin Wise Sr. and Jeanette Gertrude Harkema moved from Ionia, Michigan to Holland, Michigan. Ionia County is two counties east of Ottawa County (where Holland is), so it made sense for the Wise's to switch congregations. However, when they moved, they also switched denominations!

According to this document, which was found in "U.S., Selected States Dutch Reformed Church Membership Records, 1701-1995", Mr. and Mrs. Fred E. Wise were members in full communion of the First Presbyterian Church in Ionia. They had probably been members for a few years, as the family was living in Ionia in the 1920 Census. The record goes on to state that at their own request, they are dismissed from the congregation and recommended to the "Christian care and fellowship" of the First Reformed Church of Holland. This order was given at Ionia on March 25, 1923. Once the family had moved to Holland, they began attending First Reformed, an RCA congregation where my family has deep roots. This was probably up to at least the time of Fred's death four years later, because when she died in 1951, Jeanette was attending Prospect Park Christian Reformed Church- yet another Protestant denomination!

Obituary Observations: Jeanette Gertrude Harkema of Holland, Michigan (1895-1951)

While going through one of my grandfather's genealogy binders the other day, I came across the obituary of my great-great grandmother, Jeanette Gertrude Harkema (1895-1951). I do not believe I've ever read this obituary, as it wasn't transcribed on my family tree. Jeanette seems to have led an interesting life:

Mrs. Jeanette G. Wise, 55, of 101 East 25th St., died Saturday in Holland hospital where she was admitted Wednesday. She had been ill two years. 

She was born in Holland and educated in local public schools. She was a member of Prospect Park Christian Reformed church, a Gold Star mother and a member of the American Legion Auxiliary. 

Her husband, Fred E. Wise, to whom she was married Feb. 14, 1912, was electrocuted in a power accident in 1927. A son, Robert Wayne, was killed by lightning while camping at Holland State park in the summer of 1942. Another son, Lt. John H. Wise, was killed in a plane crash while serving with the U. S. Air Corps in 1943. 

Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Tim Smith and Mrs. Marvin J. Ver Hoef; three sons, Harold J., Fred E., Jr., and Kenneth P., all of Holland; 25 grandchildren and two great grandchildren; her father, William R. Harkema; her mother, Mrs. Jennie G. Atman; two stepsisters, Mrs. Henry Dorn of Holland and Mrs. Helen Belyea of Los Angeles, Calif. 

Here are some of my observations:

• The address of her residence is recorded, 101 East 25th Street. This part of town seems to be over by Holland Hospital, but I am not entirely sure. Photos of the house come up on Google Maps, but I don't know if the house looked the same when Jeanette lived there. 
• I wonder what kind of illness Jeanette had, and what her cause of death was? Her death certificate is something I should look into finding, to uncover what kind of illness it was. I wonder what it was like living with it for two whole years. 
• If she was born in 1895, she likely graduated high school around 1913. I wonder if she attended Holland High School? And if so, if any yearbooks might exist which would include a photograph of her? This is something to look into next time I visit the Herrick Library.
• Jeanette is now my 5th CRC ancestor I've discovered in less than two weeks, after previously being unaware of any CRC heritage. I don't know if she was Christian Reformed when my great-grandmother Gertrude was growing up, but at least by the time she died she was Christian Reformed. This congregation, Prospect Park, doesn't seem to exist anymore. 
• The fact that Jeanette was a Gold Star mother is something very sad, but honorable. Losing a child in the service is heartbreaking and I cannot imagine how much suffering she went through. 
• As a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Jeanette must have been very active in honoring her son's service, and I imagine she was quite patriotic. The ALA seems to be composed of female relatives of veterans, and Jeanette certainly fell into this category. 
• It is interesting to see an obituary include a marriage date. The date is accurate (I have their marriage record), but it's still interesting to be included. 
• Losing a husband after 15 years of marriage in a shock electrical accident must have been extremely difficult for the young family to bear. She definitely lived a tragic life, but must have been a very strong woman to endure all of this. 
• I knew someone in the family was killed by a lightning strike, but I didn't remember who. The obituary confirms it was a brother of my great-grandmother Gertrude, Robert Wayne. 
• Her son, Lieutenant John Harter Wise (named after his grandfather, a Civil War Veteran), is the relative mentioned earlier who died in the service. As the obituary states, he died in a plane crash while serving in the Air Corps. This must have been a very tragic loss for the family and I can only imagine her grief upon being informed.
• Jeanette's parents both outlived her, which is a very interesting fact. I don't know the reason they divorced, but losing a daughter hopefully brought them together at least a little bit for the funeral. 
• I wonder who the stepsister's parents were? 

Reading this obituary, and pondering her life story, increase my admiration for my great-great grandmother. Oh, what a tragic life she endured! But because of it, she was likely an incredibly strong woman. Rest in peace!

My World War II Ancestors

The most recent war that my family fought in, unless you count the bloodless Cold War, was World War II. Both my paternal grandfather and my great-grandfather fought in World War II, and both of their stories deeply impact me today. Their stories: 

• Luther Allen Saddler Jr., paternal grandfather: He enlisted in the US Army on August 31, 1943, at Huntington, West Virginia, and had the service number of 35773482. Not much is known about his service except for little bits and pieces. On October 30, 1943, the Bluefield Daily Telegraph reported that Pvt. Luther Saddler had been transferred from Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana to the 16th armored division at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas for basic training. During the war, he served in France and Germany. He was part of the 987th Field Artillery Battalion, and was a TEC 5 (Technician 5th Grade, or Tech Corporal). During the war, he had an army buddy named Keith. He must have been close to him, as my father was given the middle name of Keith after him. When he died, he had a military funeral. My paternal grandmother remembers that the funeral was held inside the church, and when they got to the cemetery, the American flag was draped on his casket, taps were played, and they shot cannons. 

• John Washington Winn Jr., great-grandfather: His service is much better known. He enlisted November 5, 1940 and was discharged October 16, 1945. He served in Battery A of the 474th AAA. He fought at D-Day and at the Battle of the Bulge, and possibly participated in the liberation of Mittlebau-Dora Concentration Camp. He received many awards for his service, including 5 commendations for bravery, a Good Conduct medal, a medal for Sharpshooting, and most notably, a Purple Heart. He drove a Sherman Tank under recommendation from General Eisenhower. He was originally a Private, then a Corporal, and then a Staff Sergeant, but he was demoted and left a Private 1st Class. He almost froze to death in the mountains and got frostbite in his feet, and was hit in the leg with shrapnel. He drove a tank and he parachuted. He stormed a gestapo base and took home a photo of children saluting Hitler as a war prize, although this photo was later stolen. When he got back from the war, he threw his medals overboard. He didn't want them, as the war was extremely traumatic. He barely spoke about it. Evidence of how traumatic it was? He was one of only three men who came back alive from his original battalion. And he was the only one who came back with all his limbs intact. 

For those wondering why my great-grandfather was demoted to a Private? The Allies were trying to take a hill and the Germans kept waiving the white flag. When the Allies went to take over, the Germans would shoot them. The Allies were told not to shoot because of the white flag. He told his men to shoot them regardless if they waived the white flag.  They waved and his men shot on his orders.  This was a violation of the direct order that he had not to shoot.  He was brought in after the incident and was told that he had to apologize to his senior officer.  He said that he would not apologize to the SOB and didn't know that the guy was sitting in the back of that room. He was stripped of his rankings. 

RIP to everyone who died in World War II fighting fascist aggression and genocide. 

Credit to my great-aunt Michelle for these photos 

Ancestral Discoveries: An Ancestor named Geert!

One of my long-standing little wishes in my Dutch genealogy was to find an ancestor named Geert. For some reason, I've always liked that name. And now I've found one- on my Bentheim side! My 6th great-grandmother, Fenne Tijink, died in Scheerhorn, Grafschaft Bentheim on December 12, 1863 and was buried at Arkel four days later. Her burial record lists her parents as Geert and Harmine Gruskamp! So there's one little wish down, as well as another interesting surname, and some more unanswered questions on my Bentheim side. 

Ancestral Discoveries: Four Christian Reformed Church Ancestors

In my previous article, I discussed a recent discovery I made, that my 4th great grandfather, Reiner Harkema (1850-1943), was a member of the Christian Reformed Church. This was a huge discovery, since previously all of my known Dutch American ancestors had been members of the Reformed Church in America as far as I had known. The Christian Reformed Church, or CRC, was founded in 1857, when four churches with around 130 families seceded from the Reformed Church in America, or RCA, because the RCA was supposedly theologically liberal, similar to the Dutch Reformed Church (the State Church) back in the Netherlands. After making this discovery of a CRC ancestor, I have subsequently learned of three more CRC ancestors!

• Minnie Harmsen, 2nd great grandmother: When my great-grandfather, Marvin John Ver Hoef, was growing up, he was apparently raised in a CRC household by his mother Minnie. His father Albert, meanwhile, rarely (if ever) attended church. Further confirming this is her obituary, which states: "She was a member of Fourteenth Street Christian Reformed Church". 
• Jan Hendrik Grote and Geertje Laarman, 4th great grandparents: The obituaries of my 4th great grandparents show that they were members of the CRC. Jan Hendrik's states: "The funeral will be held at 1 o'clock Tuesday afternoon at the East Saugatuck church". The East Saugatuck church in question was a Christian Reformed church. Meanwhile, Geertje's states: "The funeral will be held Friday at 12:30 from the Kolendorn church". Research strongly points to this church being Christian Reformed as well, if it isn't the same one Jan Hendrik's funeral was held at. 

One open question in my mind, is which denomination my Stephan and Karsten ancestors belonged to. The family of Willem Stephan immigrated to Holland, Michigan in 1873, while the family of Marten Karsten seems to have come here in 1881. Most of the later Dutch immigrants were members of the CRC, so it's possible they were also CRC, although I do not have any evidence on their beliefs at this time. 

Parsonage of Fourteenth Street Christian Reformed Church, 1909, Holland, Michigan 

Ancestral Discoveries: Reiner Harkema's Censuses and Religion

One of my most interesting maternal ancestors is my 4th great grandfather, Reiner Harkema (1850-1943). He was born on May 8, 1850 in Holland, Michigan to Jan Derks Harkema and Diewerke Simons Vinkers, immigrants from the Dutch Province of Groningen. The family came to Michigan the year before because Jan, a Kleermaker (tailor) could not afford to buy bread for his children, according to emigration records. Reiner lost his father when he was 7, and his mother remarried, although I do not know how that affected him. But Reiner's life took a sudden turn in the 1890s when he left Michigan and moved all the way out to Washington State, specifically Yakima County. For the longest time, I did not know that much about his time in Washington. I know he built a Church and he died in 1943, but that was about it. However, I just made a couple of discoveries that expand my knowledge of this fascinating ancestor. 

One unfortunate phenomenon in my family tree is missing censuses. One major example is my 3rd great grandfather, Joseph Franklin Winn Jr., who I cannot find in the 1930 Census at all. For a while, Reiner Harkema had several missing censuses: 1910, 1920, and 1940. A couple of days ago, I checked his hints on Ancestry and discovered two excellent ones: his 1910 and 1920 Censuses! Both were excellent additions. In 1910, he was a farmer working on a fruit farm that he owned on his own account in Zillah, Washington. In 1920, he was a retired farmer living in Orchardvale, Washington. This gives us two interesting facts: he owned a fruit farm, and apparently he retired from farming between 1910 and 1920. After looking at the 1940 Census, and using some search tricks, I was able to find him as well, completing his census record collection. In 1940, he was retired, apparently with no income, living on a farm he owned on the state highway. His education was of a 3rd grade level, and he did not live on a farm in 1935. 

The second major discovery on Reiner Harkema was something that I had just looked over in my previous research. In his obituary, he is listed as having built a church in Zillah and that he served as one of the two first elders. Upon researching this church, it appears that it is the current Faith Community Church in Zillah, which is a Christian Reformed Church! This is a major discovery because pretty much all of my other Dutch American ancestors sided with the Reformed Church of America after the 1857 split. Reiner is my first documented CRC ancestor that I know of. An article on the Church website called "History of the Christian Reformed Church in Zillah" says: "The story of Faith Community Church in Zillah, WA began officially in 1901, when Classis Iowa granted a petition by early Dutch settlers to organize a church to be known as “The First Reformed Church of the Sunnyside Valley.” Back in 1896, the family of Mr. and Mrs. Harkema arrived in the valley from Holland, MI and soon were joined by the families of J.W. Oord, J.B. Rammerman, R. Bajema, G.D. Wesselius, and P. Van Belle.  For the next 5 years, the families met in homes, alternating between the Sunnyside and Zillah groups with Mr. Harkema conducting all the reading services." This is of course with his second wife, as his first wife, the one I descend from, died in Holland in 1890. This gives a timeline of his migration to Washington as well, saying that it occurred in 1896. His obituary agrees with this, saying that he'd come to Washington "47 years ago" (in 1943). It's interesting that he conducted the reading services. As well as being an early settler and also an elder, he must have been an influential figure in the CRC of Yakima County. 

Overall, these discoveries give more life to this ancestor. Reiner Harkema, a son of Dutch immigrants from Groningen to West Michigan, moved to Yakima County, Washington in 1896 and was an early member of the Christian Reformed Church there, and had a fruit farm. What a fascinating person! 

From "History of the Christian Reformed Church in Zillah", photos of the church Reiner Harkema helped found