Kruizenga Genealogy

A New Beginning

  • On 15 Nov 1876, Jacob Derks Kruizenga married his 3rd wife, Jentje (Jennie) Wittink.  View Marriage Certificate.
  • Jacob and Jennie were married in the Second Reformed Church by the minister Rev. Nicholas H. Dosker (pictured below).  Rev. Dosker was new to the area having only served three years with that particular church.  He was recruited to take the place of Rev. Jacob VanderMeulen by same during a visit to the Netherlands.  It is said that Rev. Dosker's wife, Wilhelmina, was a woman of lively imagination and unfailing animation with vivacity and religious fervor.  Rev. Dosker, on the other hand, was quiet, dignified, and thoughtful.
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Rev. Nicholas H. Dosker
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Derk Jacob Kruizenga
  • Jennie was married twice before Jacob.  Once in the Netherlands to Jan (John) Witte with whom she had three sons: Harm (Hiram), 16 April 1860-1879 (died from consumption); Hendrik (Henry), 17 Sept 1862-1945; and Jan (John), 31 Aug 1866-1887.  John died at age 36 working as a laborer on Oct. 12, 1868 from fever.  Hiram & John are buried at Greenwood.
  • Jennie's second marriage was to Peter Bylsma (born 1820), a farmer in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  They were married on 9 Aug 1870 (Michigan Marriages).  Peter's heart gave out on Oct. 14, 1875.  He worked as a hatchman.  He is buried in the potters field at Valley City cemetery.   Jennie's second marriage was short-lived - the couple did not share any children.

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Second Reformed Church, 1870-1895
Jacob & Jennie were married here.
Church sat SE corner Bostwick & Lyon
Now Grand Rapids Community College Student Center.
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Michigan Marriages - Kent County: Peter Bylsma & Jennie Wittink dated 9 Aug 1870 pg1
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Michigan Marriages - Kent County: Peter Bylsma & Jennie Wittink dated 9 Aug 1870 pg2
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Second Reformed Church Registry
Jacob Kruisinga - born 10 Feb. 1830 - member via certificate
Jentje Witte - born 1 Dec. 1836 - member via 'Belydenis' (Confession)
Kinderen (Children): Derk Jacob - born 23 Oct 1879 - baptized 26 Oct 1879
Jennie Wittink Kruizenga
Had hopes this was Jennie Wittink Kruizenga. It is not. Is this Frances Kruizenga?

The photo at left is owned by Kate 'Kruizenga' Folkertsma.  When she brought the photo for me to scan I was delighted.  I thought... here is a photo of Jacob Derk's 3rd wife Jennie Wittink. 

Unfortunately it is not.  I had the photo analyzed by Maureen A. Taylor, a photography expert who has written a couple books on photo identification.  She now serves as the photo detective for Family Tree Magazine.

The woman in this photo is in her late teens or early 20s.  The photo dates from the 1880s.  So the woman pictured would be born in the 1860s.

When the 1880 Census was taken, the only daughters living at home were Nettie (18) and Frances (14).  Nettie was married in late 1859 and had three children of her own during the 1880s (M. Blanche, 1883; Carrie M., 1886; and Eleanor J., 1887).  That seems to rule out Nettie.

As for Frances... the shoe fits.

Frances was born in May of 1866.  That would put her in her late teens or early 20s depending on when the photo was taken.

Frances married Jacob Slooter, a wealthy businessman, on 20 Aug 1885.  This picture may be a pre-marriage photo.

Frances' husband Jacob certainly had the means to pay for the photo to be taken. 



Watch Greenwood Video.

  • In 1877, Jacob's daughters Jessie and Carrie placed membership with the First Reformed Church in Grand Rapids.  On a special note, years later we also see in attendance at the same Church, Teunis Mastbergen and his family.  Teunis is the father of Pauline (Mastbergen) DeYoung (the mother of Betty Jane who married Gerrit).
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  • Second Reformed Church Registry.  Carrie 'Kruizinga' confessed faith on April 1, 1876 (age 16).  Jessie 'Kruisinga' confessed faith on Dec. 30, 1877 (age 19).  Both were suspended on May 13, 1901.  Suspension, I am told, can happen for various reasons: perhaps through lack of worship.  An examination of church minutes reveals nothing that would harm the reputation of either girl.  Jessie was re-instated in April of (illegible).  Carrie never was.
  • Jacob Derks Kruizenga and wife Jennie Wittink had one child together.  On 23 April 1879, Derk Jacob Kruizenga was born.

Timeline...

age 46 - marries 3rd wife Jentje Wittink.  15 Nov 1876.
age 49 - has only living son Derk Jacobs Kruizenga.  23 Apr 1879.
A New Century     Jennie's Genealogy
plasjes_hendrikje.pdf
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Download Ancestry Chart of Jentje Wittink's maternal lineage dating back to 1665!