|
a.
|
Note: from DONALD VAN POLEN, GERTRUDE VAN TIL, & OTHER DESCENDENTS
"Jacob and his wife, Grietje, emigrated to the U.S. in 1893 with 2-3 children. They lived in Grand Rapids, MIchigan and possibly knew the Klass Blysma family who also lived in Grand Rapids. They had been friends of the Klass Blysma family in the Netherlands. the Klass Blysma family later moved to Denver, Colorado.
Records of the Oakdale Christian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids show that Jacob at one time got church help until he started his business. Jacob had a grocery store in Grand Rapids, and they lived in the apartment above the grocery store. He later purchased a feed store on Kalamazoo Avenue (The Silver Creek Feed and Fuel). They lived in an apartment near the feed store, and later purchased a home in Grand Rapids." The 1900 Census lists the family living on Adams Street, Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan. Jacob, age 42 is a grocery man, renting his home. Maggie, age 38, is listed as the mother of 8, 5 living. "Four of Jacob and Grietje's children died in Grand Rapids. Sidney, two Jennies (one had diphtheria) and a questionable fourth child, name [--?--]. The five living children listed are Hein, 11; Sena, 9; Lizzie, 4; Grace, 3; and Jennie, 5 months. In 1904, another daughter, Hilda, is born.
In 1905 a tornado destroyed Oakdale Park Christian Reformed Church building. The Church, founded in 1890, was located on the corner of Hancock and Butler (at that point considered "in the country") The people rebuilt the church and it later became one of the largest churches in the denomination. "They came to hear conservative preaching"
After Sena, Grace and Hein contracted Tuberculosis, the family moved to Denver, Colorado. These days were sometimes referred to as the "Bethesda Hospital" days (1914-17). Sena was in a bed on the front porch for a year to get fresh air (it was felt that fresh air was the cure for TB at the time). The family lived in Denver for two years until 1917. Sena, now recovered, married Clarence Van Til in 1917 and they moved to Cope, Colorado. The rest of Jacob's family moved to Vona, California where he farmed one-half section of land for two and one-half years. Jacob had a feed and fuel business in Denver. (Gertrude Hekman: I question this statement because they were in Denver and Vona for only a very few years) Grace married Fred Eggink abt 1918, and they had a son, Anthony, born in Colorado.
In 1919, the entire family moved to Ripon, Califonia. Jacob and Greitje lived in a house on Acacia Street, a house that Clarence Van Til had built. Clarence Van Til and Lambert Ubels then built homes on the next block of Acacia Street. The 1920 Census for San Joaquin, Dent Township, CA, Acacia Street lists Jacob Van Polen, age 61, farmer. Maggie, age 59 is at home. Jennie, age 20 is a housekeeper for a private family. Hilda, age 15 is at home. Grace, Fred and Anthony live with them. Elizabeth, age 24 lives as a servant with another family...the Schw_?_fsmans (census illegible).
Jacob worked as a church janitor in Ripon, CA until he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. This was not the immediate cause of his death. He died of an embolism.
Gertrude Van Till Hekman: "My Grandfather Van Polen convinced me (at age 4 or 5) that he could swallow a large bone and take it out of the back of his neck! My Grandma Van Polen cooked on a wood range; I can still smell the red cabbage cooking! All the grandchildren remember that during the 1930's and until she died in 1944, Grandma would move around and stayed with the Van Tills, Sipmas, or the Viss family for periods of time "for diversion". We think it may have also been that with three generations living in the same house (Grandma, Aunt Lizzie, and Jack) it was necessary to create some space at times."
|
