Henrietta (Hindrikje) Hessels (Hesselink)

Born: 27 MAY 1871 in Emlichheim, Bentheim, Hanover province, Germany

Died: 6 JUL 1953 in Borculo, Michigan

Parents:
Egbert Hessels (Hesselink)
Jantje (Jentje, Jantien) Bouwkamp

Marriage:
Hermanus (Hermannes, Herman, Harm) Grüppen
1890 in Echteler, Germany

Children:    
Egbert (Edward) Gruppen    
Jennigien (Jennie) Gruppen    
Jantje (Jeanette, Janet)  Gruppen    
Geertje (Gertrude) Gruppen    
Geert (George) Gruppen    
Gerrit Gruppen    
Gerrit Wilhelm (William) Gruppen    
Gesien (Grace) Gruppen    
Susan Gruppen    
Johanna Gruppen    
Herman Gruppen    
Henrietta Gruppen    

After marrying Henrietta in 1890, Hermanus realized he would be unable to support a family in Germany. With Henrietta pregnant with their third child and an invitation from friend G.J. Rutgers in Michigan, they boarded the ship Edam bound from Rotterdam to New York, arriving 11 Sept 1893 (passenger list). They left behind his brother Gerrit, whose later wealth caused discord between the brothers, who did not speak or write for years.

The family had almost nothing when they arrived in America, and first lived with the Rutgers in Graafschap, MI (map of farm). They then rented a farm a couple of miles away, possibly where the white house stands on Rutgers' land south of Graafschap.

Around 1909 they relocated to a 120-acre farm in Blendon Township, MI, where Hermanus, also a stonemason, built their new house (map of farm). They grew celery and onion and had some cows and chickens, but remained quite poor. One year the entire crop bought only two winter coats for the family. Much of the clothing was sewed from feed sacks. Hardship continued when another farmer, to save his own crop from flooding, blocked ditches and flooded the family's onion fields three years in a row, ruining most of the crop.

Henrietta was a colder, heavier woman in later years who grew emotionally unstable and times. Later in life they moved in with their daughter Johanna's family, where she later died.

Henrietta is buried in Borculo Cemetery next to her husband.

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Henrietta (Hindrikje) Hessels (Hesselink)
(1871-1953)

 

Egbert Hessels (Hesselink)
(1844-?)

 

Johannes Hessels
(1820-1889)

 

Egbert Hessels
(1779-1848)

+
   

Grietje (Geesje) Gerritsen (Gerrits)
(1787-1847)

+
   

Hindrikje (Henderkien) Koopsingraven
(1814-1885)

 

Koop Koopsingraven
(c1782-1860)

+
   

Jannegjen Puust (Poest)
(c1788-1844)

+
   

Jantje (Jentje, Jantien) Bouwkamp
(1845-1873)

 

Hendrikus Bouwkamp
(1817-1880)

 

Jan Bouwkamp
(1777-1825)

+
   

Hendrika Bueter
 

 
   

Geesje Boerman