Kruizenga Genealogy

The Valley of the Shadow of Death

CHILDREN LISTED ON 1870 FEDERAL CENSUS

  1. Jane (age 13) - 1857
  2. Henrietta (age 15) - 1855
  3. Jessie (age 11) - Dec. 23, 1858
  4. Carrie (age 10) - Feb. 1860
  5. Mena - (age 9) - June 6, 1861
  6. Nettie - (age 8) - Aug. 1861
  7. Fanny - (age 7) - March 24, 1863
  8. Frances - (age 4) - May 1866
  9. Della - (age 1) - 1868 (died 1872)

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Second Reformed Church
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Membership List 1850-1869
The record above shows Jacob and Janna (his first wife) having been members of the Second Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 
Jakob Kruizenga
Janna Nannenga

(Mother Janna Nannenga)
Jobje (Jessie)
Grietje (Carrie)
Nantje (Nettie)

(Mother Gezina Rotman)
Tryntje Kruizenga
Derkje (Della)
1830
1831


1858
1860
1861


5 Aug 1866
29 Nov 1868
As the 1870 Census does not mention Tryntje, she must have passed before the recording date (1866-1870).  Derkje (Della) was buried at Greenwood cemetery.  LDS records indicate that Della died in 1871.
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Where are they Buried?

There is no known record for the burial of Jacob's first wife Janna.  Many Hollanders - poor in wealth - buried loved ones in the Fuller Steet Cemetery potter's field.  Greenwood had one too.

Grand Rapids Cemetery History.
  • Children of Jacob Derks Kruizenga & Janna Nannenga include:
    1. Derk: 5 Nov 1857 - 27 Feb 1858
    2. Jobtje (Jessie): 23 Dec 1858 - 2 Jun 1919
    3. Gerritje (Carrie): 9 Feb 1860 - 22 Jun 1931
    4. Nantje (Nettie): 26 Aug 1861 - 9 Jan 1939
    5. Derk: 15 July 1863 (stillborn?)
  • Jacob had no male heirs.  Both Derks passed quickly.  While it can not be proven, it makes sense that Janna died due to complications in the final delivery.  There is no record of her burial.  She is probably buried in the potter's field at Greenwood Cemetery: there are no existing records prior to 1880 because of a fire.
  • On 1 May 1864 (Michigan Marriages), Jacob remarried a War Between the States widow named Gezina (Zena) Rotmans VanBraak. 
  • Gezina's husband,  Adolphus VanBraak, served as a private with the 1st Michigan Engineers and Mechanics - company "B" enlisting on 24 Aug 1862 at the age of 44.  He served with his unit from 20 Nov 1862 dying from disease at Nashville, TN, on 23 Dec 1862.  Adolphus left behind 4 girls:  Anne, Henrietta, Jane, and Mena.
  • Adolphus VanBraak was buried in section B, Site 5668 at the Nashville National Cemetery located at 1420 Gallatin Road, South Madison, TN.
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Adolphus Van Braak (Brock) - Nashville National Cemeter - Civil War Veteran
Jacob Kruizenga married Adolphus' widow and raised his children
Photo Courtesy of Kathy Bilbrey

Marriage Record...
From the Record: Kruizenga, Jacob D. (w) 37, Grand Rapids, and Gezina Van Braak (w) 36, same place. 1 May 1864, by Vander Meulen, Min., Gerrit Dalman, and Sunderd Vis, at Grand Rapids, witnesses. 4:229
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Rev. Cornelius VanderMeulen
Married Jacob & Gezina
  • The 1870 Federal census spells the Kruizenga surname as "Krinzenda".  Jacob is listed as a laborer.  The family lives in the 4th ward of Grand Rapids.  Zena can not write nor read English: nothing is marked for Jacob.  Dollar value of real estate owned in 1870 was $3,000 and personal property valued at $500.
  • In 1871, daughter Zena was born and died.  She was the first to be buried at the Greenwood Cemetery plot in Grand Rapids.  The Kent County death records state that Zena died on 20 July 1871 (Michigan Deaths) from "fits", an old term for epilepsy/seizures.
  • There were no headstones to mark the graves at Greenwood until 1 March 1907.  The Black Monument company (receipt 5983) lists J F Slooter, Frances Kruizenga's husband, as having paid for - on that date - all of the headstones found on the Kruizenga lot including the Witte boys, save the larger memorial stone found in the center.  The Kruizenga plot is located in the northeastern corner of Section A at Greenwood.  See map.
  • A year later in 1872, Jacob's 4-year old daughter Derkje (Della) died.  What a sad time this must have been for the family.  Della is also buried at Greenwood.
  • On 12 Apr 1874, Gezina (Zena) Kruizenga passed away.  She was 46.  She is buried at Greenwood after the burial of a mysterious marker marked only "Uncle" William.  
Next: L M Cutcheon - Jacob's Employer

Timeline...

age 34 - marries 2nd wife Gezina Rotmans VanBraak.  1 May 1864.
age 36 - daughter Tryntje (Frances) is born.  11 May 1866.
age 38 - daughter Derkje (Della) is born.  9 Sept 1868.
age 40 - daughter Gezina (Zena) is born.  25 Jan 1871.
age 40 - daughter Gezina (Zena) dies from epilepsy.  28 July 1871.
age 40 - daughter Derkje (Della) dies.  5 Jan 1872.
age 44 - 2nd wife Gezina dies.  12 Apr 1874.