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Note: BIOGRAPHY: The following and all circumstances if not experienced personally (b Willem Kapteyn, born 6 September 1903) are copied and put together from history written by Father Pieter Nicolaas Kapteyn (born 16 May 1874) "Cornelis Kapteyn, son of Willem born on January 12, 1827, on March 10, 1854 Married Cornelia VerBree. They settled in the municipality of Nieuwkoop o the Ziendeweg; a tenant house had been built on land belonging to his father. Approximately 45 acres of pastureland along with all the buildings became his property for the sum of 18,000 Guilders, with a mortgage of 14,000 Guilders. The early years of their marriage were a disapointment financially. Even though Cornelis was a God-fearing man, this caused him much discouragement. They had counted on a sum of money from his wife's family, which for unknown reasons did not materialize. Later an approximate 2,000 Guilders was inherited from an Aunt. After some years, however, better times arrived concerning the operation. Everything rose in price, resulting in relative prosperity. Among the general population there was considerable confidence in agriculture, and investment in farm enterprises was considered safe. Cornelis and Cornelia also prospered in their married life. Of the 10 children born to them, 8 reached the age of maturity; namely Willem, Annigje, Adrianus (the father of Bartus Willem, the tireless Kapteyn genealogist), Paulus, Dirk, Dirkje, Cornelia Belia, and Pieter Nicolaas (The great grandfathe of Bryan William Kapteyn, the recorder of this history). Their parents taught them at an early age to know and serve their Savior, and the fruits were quite evident already in their youth. As previously mentioned, there were a number of prosperous years, but afte that there was a recession. There were also some losses because of lending money to family members and others either because of the business recession or bankruptcy of those involved, making Cornelis Kapteyn the victim. Since he was known as well-to-do, he was asked repeatedly for financial help, and because he had a benevolent nature (perhaps he was too good) he himself in the long run began experiencing money problems from which he was never able to extricate himself. In the Gereformeerde Kerk of Bodegraven, Cornelis served as elder and deacon for many years; a total of 34 years to be exact. On May 16, 1891, his wife Cornelia passed away at the age of 57. In the meantime, the three oldest children were married and the fourth, Paulus, in 1883 married Krijntje Rodenburg and bought the dwelling from his father along with most of the land. In addition his father (Cornelis) rented a piece of land on which he built a house and continued farming on a relatively small scale until 1890, at which time he rented more land and thus obtained an operation of +/- 45 acres which he continued until 1900. In that year he (Cornelis) turned the business over to his youngest son, Pieter Nicolaas, fathe of this writer, and moved to Bodegraven with his youngest daughter, Cornelia Belia. The other children were married in the meantime. It seems that Cornelis Kapteyn knew many reverses and financial worries during the last period of his life. However, in spite of all these adverse circumstances he fought the good fight and kept the faith. On Jaunuary 28, 1904, he passed away in his Lord and Savior at Bodegraven. Pieter Nicolaas Kapteyn, then, took over the farm from his father Cornelis in December of 1899.
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