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In January I worked long and hard to connect Jacob and Agnes Smith to their Dutch origins. On the 1900 Federal Census, the Dutch spelling “Smit” is given. Agnes (ne. Ankje)’s maiden name is a bit of a mystery. She was definitely Agnes Alberda, but I also have Van Welde attached to her, from somewhere (possibly writing on the back of one of the old photos). This name doesn’t ring a bell with Glenn. He says Kleis sticks in his mind with her. He’s not sure where the Smits came from, but he seems to remember his mother mentioning Groningen. The map below shows the Groningen province in yellow. Schoorl (where the DeJongs were from) is marked as well.

History of Groningen

Glenn also remembers hearing that Agnes and Jacob Smith (or Smit) had a child that became ill on the boat and died at Ellis Island (probably a boy.) Apparently Agnes prayed the child would not die before they arrived in the US, because he would be buried at sea. He died immediately after they arrived, so there may be a grave at Ellis Island. Agnes always felt that God was punishing her because all her boys died. The only one that lived was the last one– Henry John. Previous to him, Henry and John (twins) had died. Peter died on the railroad tracks, and Nick died right after WWI.

Glenn thinks Jennie was born in Onarga, Illinois (that’s what it says on his birth certificate) where the family lived for a short time. The Smiths arrived in the US in 1889, the year after Jacob and Agnes married, and Jennie was born two years later.

Link to original photo.