International
Vandenberg families abroad
This part of the website is on Vandenberg families that emigrated to a new homeland.
The emigrated families we know of are:
1. Klaas Vandenberg and Elisabeth Vanderkolk Vandenberg (from Dinxterveen-branch/ Dutch-American branch)
2. Harm Gijsbert Vandenberg and Jennigje Vanderhaar Vandenberg (from Genemuiden-branch /Albert-branch)
3. Sipke Vandenberg and Alma Jongschaap (from Frisian-branch)
4. Jentinus Vandenberg and Trijntje Steenbergen (from Dinxterveen branch, Jentieszoon-branch)
There may be more emigrated Vandenberg families, and probably descendants from the Wanneperveen-branch living in Canada as well. On some families we have a lot of information, on other we have less. If you have any information, (digital) photographs or questions, contact us on info@vandenberg-dinxterveen.nl It would be nice if you would help to make our website grow, so we'll have a world-wide digital platform for our extended family.
Short history of Vandenberg family
Vandenberg family originates from Dinxterveen (eastern part of Wanneperveen), Overijssel, the Netherlands.
The name "Den Berg" was originally also called "De Bult". Den Berg is a 6-yards-elevation in an otherwise flat landscape. Bult means something like "heap", so "mountain" probably sounded better..
The first inhabitant we know by name is Roelof Lamberts op de Bult, who is on a tax list of 1544, not long after Georg Schenck conquered the region for Emperor Charles V, Count of Flandres and Burgundy.
One generation later, Tije Harms lived on the farm that was called De Bult or Den Berg. He is the ancestor of all Vandenberg families originating from Dinxterveen. Tije farmed the land of the original farm, from the canalized river Meppeler Diep in the south to the border with Giethoorn village in the north. The farm land was about 8 miles long, but not very wide (probably 100 yards), with a little field for growing grain, some pastures, some wood and some peat land.
Tije Harms was already deceased, when Staten forces from Maurice of Orange conquered the city of Steenwijk in a siege in 1592. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice_of_Nassau,_Prince_of_Orange
After Steenwijk was conquered, the surroundings of Steenwijk, including Dinxterveen, were firmly held by the young Dutch Republic. By that time, the inheritants of Tije: his sons Thijs Bult, Peter Bult and son-in-law Jan Klunder owned the farm and the land. There was trouble with all kinds of former soldiers and refugees roaming the land so the inhabitants of Dinxterveen organized as vigilantes with Thijs and Peter Bult as prominent members. Both brothers had to go to court in 1612 as an innocent traveler had appealed that in the village of Dinxterveen he had been badly beaten up by Thijs and Peter Bult and their men.
Klaas Klaassen, from Bakker-farm in neighbouring Kolderveen, married the daughter of Peter Bult and as far as we know, he was the first to be mentioned as Van den Berg (addition: the son of Peter Bult may also have been called Van den Berg). During the Middle Ages and the first centuries after, it was use that the youngest daughter and her family stayed on the farm to care for her parents when they grew old, whereas the sons and older daughters would marry onto another farm (or buy a ship and become a bargeman-merchant).
In 1678 Klaas Klaassen Bakker / Van den Berg had died, and youngest daughter Geesje with her husband Klaas Lamberts would stay on the farm. And therefore, had to pay a total amount of 800 Caroli Guilders (money introduced by Emperor Charles V) to her brothers and sister. Klaas Lamberts did not manage this in his lifetime, so after he died in 1694, his wife and sons continued paying until 1707. In 1729 the sons of Harmen Klaassen van den Berg appealed in court that their cousin Klaas Klaassen van den Berg had still not paid everything. They probably had waited to sue cousin Klaas until his mother, their aunt, Geesje had died (and she lived well into her 80s). It turned out the waiting had be too long, as the judge ruled that after 40 years, the case had expired. It's only because of this trial however, that the contract of 1678 was filed.
After Geesje, her son Lambert Klaassen van den Berg (ancestor of Genemuiden-branch) lived on the Vandenberg-farm and after him, his son Klaas Lamberts van den Berg, when the farm burned down in 1748. The different Vandenberg-families had been living on other farms and started to leave the village from 1750 onwards, as peat digging was on its return. Dinxterveen farmers in the 17th and 18th century made extra money having their land digged and the wood and peat sold to bargemen/merchants sailing to the flourishing cities Zwolle, Kampen and Amsterdam. The period from the early 1600s until the middle of the 18th century was the golden age for Amsterdam and with it the entire Netherlands. In Dinxterveen the Vandenberg families were prosperous as farmers and active in the church and the municipality. In the 19th century life grew harder. Population grew, trade did not, prices fell, there was not much land to be developed nearby and farms were divided into smaller entities. Of cause there was technological development and modern life was introduced. Officials came in from out of the village. Vandenbergs more and more left the village of Dinxterveen to find new opportunities elsewhere.
Klaas and Elisabeth (Vanderkolk) Vandenberg
Klaas and Elisabeth Vandenberg lived in Dinxterveen until 1847 when they sold their land and bought a farm in Smilde, near the Leembridge, at the road to Appelscha, Friesland. Klaas Vandenberg had had problems with local authorities in Wanneperveen, after he left the dutch reformed church in 1834 and having a new local church installed at the house of his father Klaas Sr by well known reverend Hendrik de Cock http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hendrik_de_Cock in 1835. After Klaas signed a letter drafted by Rev. Anthonie Brummelkamp on a national synod, he was investigated by the authorities, as he was seen as a threat to society. Klaas officially did a lot of business in neighbouring Nijeveen, Drenthe to escape from control of Wanneperveen authorities and in 1847 decided to leave the village and move out. He bought the Smilde-farm together with his sons Klaas, Hendrikus and Roelof. The family lived in Smilde for almost 10 years, but in the spring of 1856 they sold all possesions (except the house, which they leased) to emigrate to the United States. Perhaps the bad price of potatoes was also a factor in emigrating, as the Vandenbergs had not much cattle and concentrated on growing potatoes to which the soil in Smilde was better suitable compared to Dinxterveen. Klaas and Elisabeth emigrated with sons Roelof and Hendrikus, the handicapped Jacob and youngest daugther Jentje. Son Klaas stayed in the Netherlands, taking care of all the financial business and the leased farm. Klaas and Elisabeth probably came to Michigan in the summer of 1856, but were first reported in april 1859 in Fillmore, Allegan County, where they would stay for the rest of their lives.
Michigan
Their children were:
1. Roelofje van den Berg (1816), died as an infant;
2. Egbert van den Berg (1817-1883), farmer, laborer, married Femmigje Bloemberg, were married with children at the time of emigration, descendants live in the Netherlands;
3. Roelofjen van den Berg (1820-1858), married Lambert Dik, carpenter in Smilde; Lambert Dik' father Jan was also active in the Secession in Smilde, making his barn available for religious services; Roelofje and Lambert were married with children at the time of emigration and did not come with the parents; both Roelofje and Lambert died soon after the parents left and their children Jakobje Dik and Jan Dik became orphans. Dik family tradition tells that grandparents Klaas and Elisabeth tried to get them to Michigan, but the Dik family refused that for financial reasons as they had inherited some money; in 1904 Jan Dik' son Albert Dick, who was a talented painter, did emigrate to Cleveland, Ohio.
4. Klaas van den Berg (1821-1899), laborer, farmer and merchant, married Trijntje Koens, daughter of Jans Koens, a carpenter as well. Jans Koens emigrated with the family at age 80 (!) in 1870, for their children see later on this page.
5. Geesje van den Berg (1823-1881), married Jan Alberts Baas, a bargeman and merchant, were married with children at the time of emigration, descendants live in the Netherlands;
6. Trijntje van den Berg (1825-ca. 1873), married Jan Hummel, laborer in nearby Haulerwijk, Friesland, after Jan Hummel died in 1868, Trijntje and the children emigrated in 1869, see later on this page;
7. Hendrikus van den Berg (1827-1882), farmer, first married Willemina Smith, and as a widower married Geertruida Dijkhuis; for the children of Hendrikus and Willemina see later on this page;
8. Roelof van den Berg (1829-1884), laborer, farmer and dairyman, married Babette Neuschwanger, from Beuron (Germany), for their children see later on this page;
9. Jacob van den Berg (1831-after 1881), was mentally handicapped (Down syndrome?);
10. Elizabeth van den Berg (1833-1917), was single at the time of emigration but did not emigrate with the parents,
married Pieter Buisman, bargeman and merchant, descendants live in the Netherlands;
11. Arent van den Berg (1835-1838), died as an infant;
12. Jentje van den Berg (1837-1897), married Jan Hendrick Spitsbergen, farmer in Zeeland, Michigan, for their children see later on this page.
Children and grandchildren in the US
Klaas van den Berg and Trijntje Koens arrived in Holland, Michigan, in may 1870. They had a farm in Olive Township. Their graves are still in Pilgrim Home Cemetary.
They had 4 children:
1. Margaret Vandenberg, born in 1850 in Smilde as Grietje, in 1872 married Johannes Essenburg, born in Hierden, Gelderland, in 1849, arrived in Michigan in 1868; this family farmed near Holland Michigan. Margaret died in 1915 but Johannes Essenburg farmed until well into the 30s. He was 90yo when he died in november 1940; they raised 8 children, most called Essenburg, but some Essenberg and Essenburgh; there's a book on the Essenburg family in the Netherlands and the US called "the castle in the woods";
2. Johannes Vandenberg, born in 1854 in Smilde, was single for a long time and stayed with the parents on their farm. A year after his mother died, in 1903, he married Anna Vandenbrink, born in Michigan in 1876; they had no children but they were guardians of Louis Vandenbrink and Raymond Vandenbrink; Johannes died in 1922, Anna died in 1950;
3. Klaas Vandenberg, born in 1858 in Smilde, in 1883 married Martha Maneschijn. Witnesses were his father Klaas and his brother J(oh)annes. Martha Maneschijn was from Emmen, Drenthe, and spoke about the same dialect as Klaas. Her father had died and her mother had remarried and come to Michigan in 1872. Klaas and Martha had 10 children, but lost little Johannes as a toddler. Most of the children stayed in or near Holland, except for son Nicholas Vandenberg, who married Etta Cook in 1908 and a few years later moved along her family to Garfield, Newaygo county. Daughter Elizabeth Vandenberg went with her husband Edward Boeve to Portland, Oregon and daughter Henrietta Vandenberg VanZanden moved to Grand Rapids. Two daughters, Alice and Margaret, married two Nienhuis brothers, Albert Nienhuis and John Nienhuis. The families were neighbors, Vandenberg farm was close to the Nienhuis mill. Daughters Gertie Vandenberg Bazaan, Dena Vandenberg Vandenheuvel and sons Gerrit Vandenberg and Tim Vandenberg with their families stayed in or near Holland, Michigan.
4. Elizabeth Vandenberg, born in Kloosterveen in 1863, in 1886 married Egbert Bareman, who was born in Hoek, Zeeland, the Netherlands, and had emigrated with his parents in 1873. Egbert Bareman started the Bareman Dairy company in 1898. Egbert and Elizabeth raised 13 children, who all stayed in or near Holland, Michigan.
Trijntje Vandenberg Hummel arrived in the US in late 1869 with her three children, but died soon after arriving there. It is known from Hummel family tradition, that son Henry remembered her having red brown hair, which is a feature coming back in the generations of almost all lines of descendants of Klaas and Elisabeth Vandenberg.
Her children were:
1. Remmelt (Remmert) Hummel, born in Smilde in 1856, was a farm hand, lived in Fennville, Allegan County, in 1890, but then moved to work with his aunt Klaas and Trijntje Vandenberg on the farm in Olive Township. There he came to know Eelkje Cupery, who was a maid servant there, and married her in 1900. They had no children and Remmert died in Kentwood, Kent County, in 1905 from nephritis, a kidney disease that more family members suffered from.
2. Klaas Hummel, born in Haulerwijk in 1860, the Hummel family in the US has no knowledge of him, he probably died young, but in the census of 1880 he is on a list of laborers in a furniture factory in South Ionia Street in Grand Rapids.
3. Henry Hummel, born in Haulerwijk in 1865 and lived to a high age (died in Grand Rapids in 1952), married in Vriesland Michigan 1890: Krijntje (Minnie) Rychel, who was born in Michigan 1870 from parents originating from Ouddorp, "Flakkenaars" as they say in the US; Henry and Minnie moved to Grand Rapids after the marriage, living at Logan Street, where he became a dairy man and where they raised 5 children.
Henry (Hendrikus) Vandenberg was the oldest son to come with his parents to the US in 1856. He was used to working with his parents on the farm that he owned, but he had to work as a farm hand first to make some money in the US. In october 1860 he was able to buy himself some land. He was still single in 1863 and therefore had to go to the draw for the Civil War even though he was older than 35. But there was a lot of protest against the draw so he didn't have to do service in the military. Sometime later he married Willemina "Minna" Smith, daugther of blacksmith Frans Smit, who with his wife Celia Bos had emigrated from Hattem, Gelderland, in october 1846. After giving birth to 3 children, Minna Smith Vandenberg died about 1871 and Henry was a single parent for some time. In 1875 he remarried Geertruida Dijkhuis, who was a widow with one daughter, Janna Vandenbeldt. Seven years later adversity came. Henry died from lung fever in april 1882 and litte Janna Vandenbeldt died two months later. Geertruida Dijkhuis died in september 1883 and sadly left the children as orphans.
The children were:
1. Minna Vandenberg, born in 1867, in 1886 married Charles W Rawson, a carpenter from Lincolnshire, England, who had emigrated in 1865; Minna and Charles had no children.
2. Elisabeth Vandenberg, born in 1868, died as an infant in a fire that same year.
3. Klaas Vandenberg, born in 1869, in 1894 married Lucy (Lammigje) Fictorie, of Hollandscheveld, Drenthe, Netherlands. Klaas must have had some contact with his family, as he moved to McBain village, Richland, Missaukee county, where he owned some land, next to the land of his cousine Elisabeth Spitsbergen King across the street. Klaas and Lucy farmed there for 30 years and raised 3 sons. In the 1920's Klaas and Lucy retired and moved to 702 Delaware Street, Grand Rapids. Their children Fred and Maurice and their families also lived in Grand Rapids. Son Andrew and his wife went to live in Detroit and later moved to Saint Joseph, Berrien, Michigan.
Roelof Vandenberg also came with his parents in 1856, was single for a long time, and had to take part in the draw for the Civil War as he was a little younger than 35 in july 1863. He worked as a farm hand and a laborer and was able to buy himself some land in may 1870. He had married in 1865, 36 years of age, with 18 year old Babette Neuschwanger, who had just a few months before arrived in Michigan from Beuron in Baden Wurttemberg, Germany. Witnesses at the marriage were Klaas Vandenberg Sr (68yo) and Christian Streng, who was a family member of Babette. After 1870 Roelof had a little farm and operated as a dairy man.
Children of Roelof and Babette were:
1. Klaas Vandenberg, born in 1867, died when he was 20 months old;
2. Christina Vandenberg, born in 1868, in 1893 in Grand Rapids married Ralph DeVries, of Westerbork, Drenthe, the Netherlands, who had emigrated with his parents in 1869; they had no children. Ralph was in real estate and worked for Steketees Department Store. They lived in Grand Rapids and spent their summers at Lake Macatawa. Christina died in 1944 and Ralph in 1951;
3. Elizabeth Vandenberg, born in 1869, in 1890 married Jacob Wolfert, who had emigrated with his father from Haarlemmermeer, the Netherlands in 1880 (but the family originated from Dirksland, they were Flakkenaars); Jacob Wolfert had a meat market in Holland Michigan; together they had 6 children, 2 of whom died at early age;
4. Gertidina Vandenberg, born in 1870, died in may 1881;
5. Magdalena Vandenberg, born in 1874, died in may 1881;
6. Jane Vandenberg, born in 1876, died in may 1881;
7. Roelof Vandenberg, born in 1879, worked as a machine operator, died from chronic nephritis, a kidney disease, in 1905.
Roelof Vandenberg Sr died in 1884, after which Babette remarried Roelof Fik, from Hoogeveen, Drenthe, the Netherlands. Roelof Fik and Babette had a daughter (Bertha) and and a son (John Henry). There must have been one more child, as Babette states in the census of 1900 that she had had 10 children of which in 1900 5 were still alive.
Soon after they arrived in Fillmore, Allegan, Jentje Vandenberg found work as a maid servant at widowed Jan Hendrick Spitsbergen, who had to raise two children. It was not long, before they married. Jan Hendrick Spitsbergen grew up in Hummelo, Gelderland, and arrived in Baltimore, Maryland, in june 1847. He worked as a cooper with blacksmith Van Wingerden and later owned his own farm in Zeeland, Michigan. Jan Hendrick Spitsbergen was a blessing for Vandenberg family. He took care of the Hummel orphans and the orphans of Henry Vandenberg, and after (grand)father Klaas Vandenberg had died in october 1882, the widowed Elisabeth Vandenberg could live with them. She would live there for more than 4 years, the last years in a wheelchair, surviving the fire of june 19. 1886. After the fire Spitsbergen had a new house built, where Elisabeth died, almost 90 years of age.
Children of Jan Hendrick Spitsbergen and Jentje Vandenberg Spitsbergen were:
1. Elizabeth Spitsbergen Loeks, born in 1860 (first born family member in the US), married Albert John Loeks, went along the family of her half brother Henry Spitsbergen to McBain village, Riverside, Missaukee, raised 7 children there; remarried Albert King, after Albert Loeks died.
2. Johannes Spitsbergen, born in 1861, died as a toddler;
3. Gerdiena Spitsbergen, born in 1863, died when she was 14 months old;
4. Klaas (Nick) Spitsbergen, born in 1865, farmed with his father, died of typhoid fever in 1897;
5. Hanna Spitsbergen, born in 1867, died as a toddler;
6. Gerritdina (Delia) Spitsbergen Vermeulen, born in 1869, in 1898 married Frank John Vermeulen, who had emigrated in 1886, founder of Vermeulen Furniture in Kalamazoo, Michigan; they raised 5 children that lived to a high age;
7. Jentje Spitsbergen, born in 1872, stayed single, died in Zeeland in 1932;
8. Johannes (John) Spitsbergen, born in 1874, studied theology on Hope College to become a Minister, but died of typhoid fever in 1897 before he could take office;
9. Johanna (Anna) Spitsbergen, born in 1875, was the last grandchild of Klaas and Elisabeth alive (died in 1964), married in 1907 William Woldring, born in 1880 in Haren, Groningen, the Netherlands, emigrated with his parents in 1890; Anna and William raised 5 children, one of whom is still alive;
10. Trijntje (Katie) Spitsbergen, born in 1878, named for aunt Trijntje Hummel, was a talented student in high school, died of typhoid fever in 1897;
11. Geesje (Grace) Spitsbergen, born in 1881, named for dutch aunt Geesje Baas (who was terminally ill at the time of Geesje Spitsbergens birth), in 1906 married Peter Ossewaarde, born in Zeeland Michigan 1872, from one of the early founder families of Holland Michigan (just as Jan Hendrick Spitsbergen was). Grace and Peter had 3 children, but their eldest son Milton tragically drowned in 1917, in the river behind the farm of John Petroelje.
In 1897 there was an outbreak of typhoid fever in Spitsbergen family, costing the lives of the mother and 3 children. It was probably due to a well with polluted water near the house. Grace got ill as well, she was the only one that recovered.
Harm Gijsbert and Jennigje (Vanderhaar) Vandenberg
Harm Gijsbert was born in Genemuiden, Overijssel, the Netherlands, son of Albert van den Berg, a merchant, and Grietje Verhoek. Harm Gijsbert was named after his grandfather Harm Gijsberts Verhoek, who was born in Amsterdam, but lived his married life in Genemuiden as a shopkeeper.
As he grew up Harm worked as a farm hand in and near Genemuiden. In 1851 he married Jennigje van der Haar, a local farmers daughter. In 1865, they emigrated to Michigan, with four children: Jan, Grietje, Maria and Alberdina. The Civil War came to a close, the Holland Town soldiers returning shortly after the Vanden Berg family had arrived in Michigan. Son John Vanden Berg remembered that a homecoming demonstration was held in Public Square, now Centennial Park, where a banquet was given to the "boys in blue" with Dr VanRaalte presiding over the deliberations.
In Michigan, 3 more children were born. Harm worked as a laborer. In 1880 he was working at the stove factory. In 1900 he was retired, living togehter with his wife and two unmarried daughters, and living nextdoor to his married son Albert, merchant in groceries, and his married daughter Gertrude Roseboom, at the cross of 6th street and college Avenue in Holland City. Daughter Elizabeth cared for her parents when they reached high age. Jennigje died in 1908 (78yo) and Harm in 1914 (85yo), having lived in Michigan for almost 50 years.
The children were:
1. Albert van den Berg, born in 1851, died in Genemuiden in 1860, 9yo;
2. Jan van den Berg, born in 1853, died as an infant;
3. John W (Jan) Vandenberg. (1854-1931), married Harriet VanLente, see later on this page;
4. Gertrude (Grietje) Vandenberg (1857-1933) married Henry Roseboom, teamster. later became lumber piler in a furniture factory in Holland Michigan;
5. Maria van den Berg, born in 1859, died as an infant;
6. Maria Vandenberg, born in 1860, married in 1881 Aart Vandenbrink, teamster in Holland Michigan, were still living there in 1930 with unmarried son Herman Gerrit Vandenbrink, treasurer;
7. Alberdina Vandenberg (1863-1950), married in 1893 Herman Vanderploeg, minister in the Dutch Reformed Church, was reverend in Coopersville MI, East Overisel MI, Prairie View KS, Sheboygan WI, Edgerton MS and Whitefield IL until his retirement in 1930 when they moved to San Jose, CA, daughter Jeanette Vanderploeg was librarian there;
8. Jacoba Elizabeth Vandenberg, born in 1866, firstborn in Michigan, cared for the parents when they grew old;
9. William Vandenberg (1868-1937), married in 1890 Elizabeth (Lizzie) Vanderheide, see later on this page;
10. Albert Vandenberg (1872-1944), married in 1897 Mary-Rose Notier, see later on this page.
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