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This is a fun discovery! Two discoveries, actually.

1. The above photo of Peter de Vos, Maggeltje (Maggie) van Vuuren, and their children. See the bottom of this post for more info and other photos; and see the full-size version on Flickr.
2. The Family of Peter de Vos booklet below.

Hazel had a copy of a booklet entitled The van Vuuuren Clan, which gave us the shape of our Dutch immigrant family, along with Glenn’s Genealogy that Lauri has been maintaining so well. That booklet was purportedly created by the First Reformed Church of South Holland IL for their 100th anniversary and published by The Vanderbilt Press in 1952. This week while working on our de Jong and van Vuuren lines, I came across another similar booklet entitled The Family of Peter de Vos.

Peter de Vos was the husband of one of the van Vuuren sisters, Maggeltje (aka Maggie) van Vuuren. They are the parents in the above photo. This new-to-me booklet has not only de Vos family history, but it also goes into the van Vuuren side and includes some things that are not in The van Vuuren Clan including the forward and sections on Jan de Vos, Peter de Vos, Maggeltje de Vos, and the family of Peter and Maggeltje. I have transcribed The Family of Peter de Vos below the PDF and I marked each section to indicate whether it’s new information or the same as The van Vuuren Clan.

This find solves another question that has been floating around my head for years– What was the Vanderbilt Press? It seemed unlikely it was connected to Vanderbilt University in Tennessee, and I could never find any mention of its existence in Chicago around that time. But the caption for this document on Ancestry said the booklet was “published by Vanderbilt Press (Jacob, husband of Mary DeVos in his basement hand-feed press).”

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Foreward *NEW*

This booklet is prepared especially for my nephews and nieces who I thought would be interested in our ancestry as far as we have been able to trace back.

Also a few blank pages in the back of this booklet for them to enter any other information, like names and dates of their families and a record of their own children.

On my father’s side of the family we were able to trace back to my grandfather, Jan DeVos, who died in Chicago on July 17, 1894. We were unable to discover the date of his birth. My father passed away on August 27, 1935.

On my mother’s side of the family we were able to trace back to her paternal grandfather and my great grandfather, Roel Van Vuuren, born in the Netherlands in 1793.

On the maternal side of my mother’s family we were able to trace back to a great great grandfather of mine, a Jan De Jong. See page six entitled “OUR FAMILY.” He was the father of Jacob De Jong, who was born October 11, 1808, in the Netherlands.
In 1951 we were saddened by the death of two in our immediate family.

On March 26, Cleo, wife of my brother Richard, died suddenly. She was always so cheerful and happy and we were so shocked at the news of her unexpected death.

On September 14 my mother passed away at the age of 84 years. During her long and serene life she was always interested in and was very much liked by all our relatives.

~ Mary Vanderbilt (Maartje DeVos)

Jan de Vos *NEW*

Jan DeVos left Stryen, Netherlands with his wife, nee Altje Lagastee and six children, Peter, Jacob, Lena, Gertrude Arthur and Annie in the year 1878 and settled on a farm near Zeeland, Michigan, In 1886 the family moved to Roseland Chicago, Illinois.
Jan DeVos died in Roseland on July. 17, 1894 and is buried in Mount Greenwood Cemetery in Chicago. Illinois.

Altje Lagastee DeVos died in Roseland on October 3, 1898 and is buried in Mount Greenwood Cemetery in Chicago Illinois.
Peter DeVos married Maggeltje Van Vuuren. Peter died on the farm in Breman Township, Cook County, Illinois on August 27, 1935 and is buried in Mount Greenwood Cemetery in Chicago, Illinois.
Jacob De Vos died on the farm in Breman Township, Cook County, Illinois on July 21, 1937 and is buried in Mount Greenwood Cemetery in Chicago, Illinois.

Lena DeVos married Lambert Tolsma Lena died in Roseland on October 5, 1891 and is buried in Mount Greenwood Cemetery in Chicago, Illinois.

Gertrude DeVos married Arie DeKoning. Gertrude died in Roseland and is buried in Mount Greenwood Cemetery in Chicago, Illinois.

Arthur DeVos died in Roseland on April 17, 1907 and is buried in Mount Greenwood Cemetery in Chicago Illinois.

Annie DeVos died in Roseland on April 18, 1895 (23 years old) and is buried in Mount Greenwood Cemetery, Chicago, Ill.

Peter de Vos *NEW*

Peter DeVos was born in Stryen, Netherlands, Province of South Holland, on October 2, 1862.

At the age of seventeen he came to America with his parents, who settled on a farm near Zeeland, Michigan.
Peter engaged in farming most of his life except for the years he worked in the Burnside Illinois Central Railroad Shops.

In 1912 he moved to a farm in Breman Township about four miles west of Blue Island, Illinois on 135th Street. At that time this farm was known as Lange’s Grove.

Peter married Maageltje VanVuuren on April 10, 1887. They were the parents of four boys and five girls.

Peter died on August 27, 1935 and is buried in Mount Greenwood Cemetery in Chicago, Illinois.

Roel van Vuuren *SAME AS VAN VUUREN CLAN BOOKLET*

Roel Van Vuuren (1793-1859) with his wife, Grietje Baardwijck (1800), set out from Uithuistermeede in 1848 and arrived in Low Prairie the same year after an ocean voyage of six weeks. According to one of the decendants, Van Vuuren had been instrumental in persuading the Rev. W.C. Wust to migrate to what was then, in the old country, considered the Indian Wilds of America. As these pioneer families later learned, there was at that time not much of Indian life left in the Calumet area.

Here Van Vuuren purchased a section of land just north of the river. A log cabin situated somewhere between the present Arie T. Gouwens and Van Oostenbrugge homes, served as the family’s first Low Prairie dwelling. Some of the logs of this cabin were later used in the construction of the Arie T Gouwens barn. The titles of properties in this area go back as far as Roel Van Vuuren ownership Roel Van Vuuren figured immediately in the activities of the church but his services were not of many years duration for he died in 1859, two years after the first cemetery had been purchased.

The graves of Mr. Van Vuuren and his wife are marked by horizontal flat slabs that have been fairly well preserved. This couple most likely were among the first adults buried in the then new cemetery west of Thornton.

The Van Vuuren family was a rather large one. The sons and daughters intermarried with members of the local families of a decade later.

Accordingly many of the folks of the First Reformed Church of South Holland are descendants of these pioneers.

• Teuntje VanVuuren married Jan de Jong.
• Anna married Arie deJong.
• Gerrigje married Arie Gouwens.
• Mageltje married Cornelis deJong (later of Michigan.)
• Jansje married Arie T. Gouwens.
• Neeltje married Gouw Zwijnenberg.
• Lammert married Aaltje de Vries.
• Dirk married Maartje deJong of High Prairie.

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The foregoing sketch of Roel VanVuuren and his family was copied from the 100 year anniversary book of the First Reformed Church of South Holland, III.

Dirk van Vuuren *SAME AS VAN VUUREN CLAN BOOKLET*

Dirk Van Vuuren, son of Roel and Grietje VanVuuren was born in the Province of South Holland, Netherlands, on September 12, 1834. He migrated with his parents to a farm in what is now South Holland, Illinois but was then called Low Prairie. He married Maartje De Jong.She was the daughter of Jacob DeJong one of the first settlers, and also the first elder of the First Reformed Church in Roseland, Chicago, Illinois. The VanVuurens built their home at 100th Place and Michigan Avenue in Roseland, Chicago, Illinois.

During the construction of this home the window and door frames were delivered on the day of the great Chicago fire, October 9, 1871.

Dirk Van Vuuren died on February 21, 1906 at the age of 71 years and is buried in the family lot in Mount Greenwood Cemetery in Chicago, Illinois.

Our Family *SAME AS VAN VUUREN CLAN BOOKLET*

Father Jacob De Jong lost his father by death when he was not quite 5 years old. His name was Jan De Jong.

Father’s mothers name was Maartje(?).

Mother Geertje De Jong was born Eenigenburg. Her father’s name was Joris Hark Eenigenburg, born on Jan. 25, 1778 in Holland, Nederland, died Aug. 8, 1842 at the age of 64 years. Grandmother Triezntze Gerrits Eenigenburg was born in the year 1779, date unknown, died on Jan. 5, 1842 at the age of 63 years.

Father Jacob De Jong was born on Oct. 11, 1808 in Holland, Nederland, in a place called Schoorl. He died in Roseland on March 27, 1875 at the age of 66 years, 5 months and 16 days.

Mother Geertje DeJong was born on July 17, 1810 in Holland, Nederland; and died in Roseland, Chicago at the age of 68 years on October 3, 1896.

Our elders migrated from Nederland to America in the year 1849 on a sailing ship over the big Ocean. The trip took 42 days. It was very stormy and with an epidemic of cholera on board 32 passengers died. They landed in New York and went immediately by steamboat to Chicago where they landed on St Street on July 4, 1849. They traveled then 14 miles south and bought land for five dollars an acre. The place was called Hoogie Prairie (High Prairie). It was all wild land.

To our elders were born sixteen children as follows:

Family of Jacob de Jong *SAME AS VAN VUUREN CLAN BOOKLET*

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The foregoing “OUR FAMILY” is an English translation of a document written in the Holland language by one of the children of Jacob DeJong.

Maartje de Jong *SAME AS VAN VUUREN CLAN BOOKLET*

Maartje DeJong was born in the Netherlands on August 25, 1835, the eldest child of Jacob and Geertje (nee Eenigenburg) DeJong.

Maartje married Dirk VanVuuren and lived in Roseland from 1849 until she died on August 1, 1911. She is buried in the VanVuuren family lot in the Mount Greenwood Cemetery, Chicago, Illinois.

The Children of Mr. and Mrs. Dirk van Vuuren *SAME AS VAN VUUREN CLAN BOOKLET*

• Grietje was born on January 26, 1856. Grietje married John Nomes. Grietje died on April 26, 1941, and is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Alsip, Illinois.
• Geertje was born on January 25, 1860. Geertje married Paul Tanis. Geertje died on January 14, 1944, and is buried in Mount Hope Cemetery in Chicago, Illinois.
• Roel was born on May 30, 1862. Roel married Katie Heun. Roel died on January 10, 1945, in Clinton, Iowa, and is buried in the cemetery in Futon, Illinois.
• Trientje was born on February 28, 1865. Trientje married Albert Hine. After the death of Albert Hine she married Myndert Knynsberg. Trientje died on November 7, 1949, and is buried in the Oak Glen Cemetery in Lansing, Illinois.
• Maggeltje was born on April 13, 1867. Maggeltje married Peter DeVos. Maggeltje died on September 14, 1951, and is buried in Mount Greenwood Cemetery in Chicago, Illinois.
• Guurtje was born on August 8, 1869. Guurtje married John Van Erden. Guurtje died on December 24, 1927, and is buried in Mount Greenwood Cemetery in Chicago, Illinois.
• Anna was born on May 2, 1871. Anna married Richard DeKock. Anna died on November 18, 1900, and is buried beside her parents in the Van Vuuren family lot in Mount Greenwood Cemetery in Chicago, Illinois.
• Jakob died in infancy.
• Jacob was born on August 11, 1874. Jacob married Kate DeKock. Jacob lives in Lansing, Illinois.

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Roel Van Vuuren died in Fulton, Illinois.

Maggeltje van Vuuren *NEW*

Maggeltje Van Vuuren was born in Roseland, Chicago, Illinois, on April 13, 1867. She attended school in the first Public School in Roseland at 103rd Street and Michigan Avenue. Her teachers were the late Professor Brennan and Miss Beyea. She assisted with the family housework and on the farm. She married Peter DeVos on April 10, 1887, in the First Reformed Church of Roseland at 107th Street and Michigan Avenue. The marriage ceremony was performed by the Reverend B. Van Ess.

Peter DeVos and wife, Maggeltje, set up housekeeping in a new home built on the homestead of her father at 100th Place and Michigan Avenue in Roseland, Chicago, Illinois.

In 1897 the family moved to Dolton, Illinois, where Mr. DeVos engaged in truck farming until the year 1900 when the family moved to Roseland. First they lived at 100th Place and Michigan Avenue, also on 100th and LaSalle Street, and later moved to 32 East 99th Place. Mr. DeVos bought the house next door west, 30 East 99th Place, which at that time was numbered 2601 99th Place, and lived there until 1912 when Mr. DeVos left his employment at the Illinois Central Shops in Burnside and moved to a farm in Bremen Township, four and one-half miles west of Blue Island, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. DeVos were the parents of four boys and five girls.

The Children of Mr. and Mrs. Peter de Vos *NEW*

1. Jan (John) was born April 4, 1888. Jan married Emma Belanger. They have a son, Alexander Joseph, and live in Chicago, Illinois.
   • Alexander married Beatrice Clettenberg. They live in Chicago, Illinois.
2. Maartje (Mary) was born January 13, 1890. Maartje married Jacob Vanderbilt. They live in Sheldon Heights, Chicago, Illinois. They have two daughters, Mary Ruth and Belle Evelyn.
   • Mary Ruth married Frederick Willard Roos. They live in Kansas City, Kansas.
   • Belle Evelyn married Toivo Einar Ulvila. They live in Blue Island, Illinois.
3. Dirk (Richard) married Cleo Miner and were parents of eleven boys and five girls. They live in Oak Forest, Illinois. Cleo (Mrs. Richard DeVos) died on March 26, 1951, and is buried in Cedar Park Cemetery in Calumet Park, Illinois. The children of Dirk and Cleo are:
   • Richard, Jr., who married Jeannie Perrino. They live in Oak Forest, Illinois.
   • Robert Leroy, who married Darlene Arthur. They live in Harvey, Illinois.
   • Georgetta Jane, who married Frank Vodnik. They live in Oak Forest, Illinois.
   • Donald Peter, who married Lois Wilki. They live in Oak Forest, Illinois.
   • Edward Miner, who married Alice Perkoski. They live in Chicago, Illinois.
   • William Arthur, who married LaVerne Maryjeske. They live in Blue Island, Illinois.
   • Herbert Louis, who married Rita Cain. They live in Oak Forest, Illinois.
   • Doris Agnes, who married Joseph Kennedy. They live in Oak Forest, Illinois.
   • Alice Jean, who married Donald Krueger. They live in Oak Forest, Illinois.
   • John Paul lives at the home of his parents in Oak Forest, Illinois, and attends Thornton High School in Harvey, Illinois
   • David Russel lives at home with his parents in Oak Forest; Illinois, and attends the Thornton Township High School in Harvey, Illinois.
   • Frederic James lives at home with his parents in Oak Forest and attends the Arbor Park School in Oak Forest, Illinois.
   • James Anthony lives at home with his parents in Oak Forest, Illinois, and attends the Arbor Park School in Oak Forest, Illinois.
   • Judith Ann lives at home with her parents in Oak Forest, Illinois, and attends the Arbor Park School in Oak Forest, Illinois.
   • Pricilla Jean lives at home with her parents in Oak Forest, Illinois, and attends the Arbor Park School in Oak Forest, Illinois.
   • Thomas Earl lives at home with his parents in Oak Forest, Illinois, and attends the Arbor Park School in Oak Forest, Illinois.
4. Altje (Alice) was born December 24, 1893. Altje married Fred Slebos. They live in Beverly Hills, Chicago, Illinois.
5. Margaretha was born in Dolton, Illinois, on July 1, 1896. Margaretha maried Jacob Hoekstra. They live in Chicago, Illinois. They have two daughters, Laurita Anne and Ruth Margery.
   • Laurita married Dewey Laughter. They live in Farmington, New Mexico.
   • Ruth married Ziegfried Maurer. They live in Chicago, Illinois.
6. Johanna was born in Dolton, Illinois, on September 8, 1897. Johanna married John Slebos. They live in Morgan Park, Chicago, Illinois.
7. Anna was born on April 11, 1902, and died April 21, 1902. Anna is buried in Mount Greenwood Cemetery, Chicago, Illinois.
8. Jacob was born May 3, 1903. Jacob lives on the farm in Bremen Township about four miles west of Blue Island, Illinois, on 135th Street.
9. Arthur was born November 29, 1905. Arthur married Rose Schick. They live in Blue Island, Illinois. They have a son, Charles Arthur.
10. Charles lives with his parents in Blue Island, Illinois, and attends the Blue Island High School in Blue Island, Illinois.

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End.

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Peter de Vos Family Photo

The above family is the one depicted in the photo at the top of this post. I compared the faces with other photos of the de Vos family and here is my best effort at identification (below). There’s an extra older girl in the photo, so my guess is John de Vos’s bride Emma Bellanger is standing beside him. John and Emma were married 17 Jun 1908. Peter and Maggie’s youngest child in the photo, Arthur, was born 29 Nov 1905, and the next youngest Jakob was born 3 May 1903. Arthur and Jakob appear to be aged about 2 and 5, respectively, so my theory is this photo was taken either at John and Emma’s wedding or around that time. Don’t miss the tiny kitten Arthur is holding!

Here’s another new-to-me photo, which was labeled “1920’s, Great Aunt Emma, Great Aunt Alice, Uncle John.” I don’t know who the woman on the left is but that looks like Alice second from left, John, and then Emma:

This photo looks like an earlier grouping of Peter and Maggie’s children. Back row, left to right, Mary, Jacob, Dirk. Front row, left to right, Johanna, Margaretha, Alice:

And let’s not forget these wonderful group shots with Jennie Hine!