8. The Start in the United States
Written by Norma Te Selle - Prophet
Firth Nebraska December 2000
Te Selle Brothers Emigrated to America
John Henry Te Selle and Herman John Te Selle
In late September, 1865, Jan Hendrik te Selle (John Henry Te Selle, born 1838), his wife, the former Hanna
Berendina Onnink, and his youngest brother, Harmen Jan te Selle (Herman John Te Selle, born 1844),
departed from Winterswijk, the Netherlands, to America. They were the sons of the late Jan Albert te Selle and
his wife Dela (ten Damme) te Selle. Writing from Gibbsville, Wisconsin, to his family on November 26, 1865,
Herman John, described their trip to America. They left their family on October 6, 1865, travelled to
Rotterdam, Hull, Liverpool, went along the coast of Ireland, and eventually arrived in New York City on
Sunday, October 29. At times, the sea was very rough during their 17 days crossing the ocean. From New
York City, the brothers and Hanna went to Buffalo, New York, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and arrived on
November 6, 1865, at the home of G. W. Bloemers in Gibbsville, Wisconsin. Bloemer's wife was the former
Janna te Selle, aunt of John Henry and Herman John. In the Netherlands, the Te Selle brothers were hired men
and worked for landowners, and gained a lot of experience in farming and working with farm animals. In 1866,
at age twenty-one, Herman John Te Selle married Berendiena Aleida (Reusink) Schreurs, a widow with a
young son, Manus John Schreurs.
In 1958-1959, I contacted two of my father's sisters (Helena "Lena" Te Selle Obbink and Harmina "Minnie" Te
Selle Dietz) for information about Herman John Te Selle's life in Wisconsin and Nebraska. They wrote that
Mrs. Schreurs owned a farm which Herman John worked. When Herman John and Berendina moved to
Nebraska, they sold the farm.
In letters to their family in the Netherlands, the Te Selle brothers commented on the price of land. In
late1868/1869, the cost was $40 to $50 per acre and before that, it was $25 to $30 per acre. In a letter to
brother Derk te Selle in August 1870, Herman John wrote that land in Wisconsin was selling from $1,400 to
$2,000 for 40 acres.
At some point in time, the brothers found places to rent and/or to buy. Herman John was residing in Township
Holland, Wisconsin, and his brother, John Henry, and family were living nine miles from him, possibly in
Oostburg, along the eastern coast of Wisconsin.
In letters to their family in the Netherlands, the brothers mentioned that they grew wheat, oats, buckwheat,
peas, and had cattle, sheep, hogs, horses, oxen, etc. The brothers started their families while in Wisconsin.
John Henry and his wife Hanna, had three children when the family moved to Nebraska in 1870 - Jane
Gertrude (1866), John William (1867) and Dela (Dillie) on April 4,1869.
Herman John reported Dela's birth to his mother and brother Derk in the Netherlands. A daughter was born to
Herman John and his wife, Berendiena, on April 21, 1868. She was named Dela after herman John's mother.
When he reported this news to his mother. he commented, "Here in America the name is called Delia/Dillie.
Dela was about two years old (or more) when her parents and half-brother, Manus, moved to Nebraska in 1871.
Gerrit John Te Selle
In August 1873, Gerrit John Te SelIe (Gerrit Jan te Selle,
born 1841), his wife, Hanna Younkers/Jonker* te
SelIe and two children, came directIy to Nebraska. Their son, John Albert, was born in 1869; their daughter,
Wilmina, was born in 1871. In addition to Gerrit's family, his aunt, Harmina te SelIe Graaskamp and her
husband, Christian/Christiaan Graaskamp also came to Nebraska at the same time. Harmina was a sister of
Gerrit's father, Jan Albert te Selle.
* Note from Norma TeSelle-Prophet: "When I was assembling information of the Te Selle brothers, some of Gerrit's ancestors were not sure of the
last name of Gerrit's wife. Therefore, her name was referred to as Younkers in the family history."
Getting Acclimated to New Surroundings
State of Nebraska
Nebraska was admitted to the Union on March 1 1867, with Lincoln replacing Omaha as its capital.
"Characteristics of the population: Nebraska's first census, taken by the territorial government in 1854,
counted 2,732 persons, exclusive of Indians. The territory then included the Dakotas and much of Colorado,
Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. The 1870 census counted 122,993 persons for the state of Nebraska with its
present boundaries. A 4.5% decrease in the population between 1930 and 1940 reflected the drought and
Depression. In 1860, Nebraska's entire population was rural. By 1970, 61.5% of the people lived in urban
areas. Settlement came about largely as a result of the Home-stead Act in 1862 and construction of railroads."
(Source: Encylopedia Americana.)
The Village of Firth, Lancaster County, Nebraska
Excerpts from the book entitled Memoir of Frank Russell Firth by Lee and Shepard, Boston, 1873, reflects,
"A short distance from Lincoln is the town of Firth, which has been just laid out. It is named in honor of the
memory of the late lamented superintendent of the road. (Western Paper, Sept. 1872." On June 8, 1872, Frank
RusselI Firth and his co-worker, a Mr. Allen, were inspecting a bridge which had been affected earlier by
floods.
The support gave way when a train started over it. Mr. Allen was killed and Mr. Firth was
badly injured; he
died a few days later.
Subsequently, "...The town {Firth} was laid out by the railroad and the plat filed for record JuIy 28, 1873..."
{Source: Lincoln, the Capital City, and Lancaster County, S. J. Clark Publishing Company, 1916, Vol. I, by
Andrew J. Sawyer.}
Firth was organized as a village in February, 1879. The first Chairman of the Board of Trustees was G. G.
Beams. (History of the State of Nebraska, published 1882, Chicago, The Western Historical Company, A.T.
Andreas, Proprietor). This same source shows that "Firth has the best graded school outside of Lincoln, C. H.
Barnard, principal. The building was erected in 1874 at a cost of $2,200, and is a two-story frame structure.
The attendance is 120. ...
"Firth has also the only newspaper outside of Lincoln. It is a neat six-column folio, edited and published by its
founder, H. Snyder. The first number of the Weekly Times appeared December 3, 1880...."
In a little booklet, "Firth's Educational Advantages," published in 1923 (*), reflects the following: "Farmers for
miles around came to Firth to do their trading, realizing that they will receive fair and square treatment. The
businessmen, in order to accommodate the farmers, keep their places of business open on Friday and
Wednesday evenings.
"At the spring, 1923, election of the voters decided to discontinue the operation of their electric light plant and
connected with another company which furnishes Firth with 24-hour electric service.
"Our city water plant furnishes the residences and business houses with abundance of pure water for all
purposes.
"During the summer months, the businessmen have a free picture show one night a week in the park " (Note:
This was continued at least to the late 1940s.)
In 1924, there were four churches in Firth: Presbyterian, Holland Reformed, Christian, and Christian Science.
The president of the Farmers Bank was G. Te Selle. (* Courtesy of the late Ruth Te Selle-Rohrs.)
Rosehill School District #63
"The Capital City and Lancaster County, Nebraska" album was published 1916 by the S. J. Clarke Publishing
Company, reflects that the "first district school in Lancaster County was organized...in the later part of 1864."
The first school in the county was 1½ miles north of Roca, a log house and called the "Old Sand Hill" School.
In 1865, District No.2 was organized at Yankee Hill.
Many years ago, I learned that Herman John Te Selle served on the District's School Board for the Rosehill
School. According to the minutes of the Annual Meeting, dated June 30, 1913, it was "Moved and seconded
that we thank Mr. Te Selle {H. J. Te Selle} for long and faithful service rendered to the district during his 40
years of service. Motion carried unanimously."
Records are not available concerning when Rosehill was established, but perhaps it may have been around
early 1870s. John Henry Te Selle and Herman John Te Selle's children would been about school age at this
time.
A 1921 (circa) picture of Rosehill School, District #63, lists a number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren
of the three Te Selle brothers. In 1956, the school was discontinued and the students transferred to the
Elementary School in Firth School District
 Rosehill
School District # 63, rural Firth, was in existence from (circa)
1870 through the 1955 school year. In 1956, the students
transferred to the Firth School District.
Pictured in 1921.
Back row, left to right:
Teacher Mossie Tally, Melvin Morris, Garret Helmink, Pearl
Vandewege, Bertha Te Selle, Sena Te Kolste, Elsie Klein, Virgie Morris, Myrtle
Vandewege.
Middle row:
Alvin Morris, Gerald Wissink, Floyd Te Selle, Lucille
Vandewege, Bill Helmink, Clarence Klein, John Henry Te Selle, Chris Te Kolste.
Front row:
Esther Vandewege, Earl De Boer, Ruth Te Kolste, Earl Te
Selle, Lowell De Boer, and Orville Te Selle.
Pearl, Myrtle, and Esther Vandewege were granddaughters of
John Manus Schreurs (stepson of Herman John Te Selle, born in 1844); Bertha Te
Selle was the daughter of John Albert Te Selle (son of Gerrit John Te
Selle,1841); Floyd Te Selle and his brother, Orville, were the sons of the
younger Herman Te Selle, 1888; Lucille Vandewege's mother was Annie TeSelle,
daughter of John Albert Te Selle, son of Gerrit John Te Selle, born in1841; John
Henry Te Selle's father was Benjamin H. Te Selle, son of John Henry Te Selle,
born in 1838; Earl De Boer and his brother, Lowell, were the grandsons of Jane
Te Selle De Boer, daughter of the elder John Henry TeSelle, born in 1838; Earl
Te Selle was the son of Benjamin F. Te Selle, son of Herman John Te Selle, born
1844.
Firth High School
The following information was taken from a small booklet about "Firth's Educational Advantages". published
in 1923.
"Children are sent to Firth for we have a B rated school, which means that we rank high educationally....."has
one of the best orchestras in High School of any town of its size in the state.......Our basketbalI teams make
excellent records .....The teachers meet the requirements of B schools. ......The school is modern throughout
and the equipment is above the average...... The moral and social life of the pupils are well taken care of and
developed in the right paths."
"Firth schools promote scholarship among their athletes. "You find that the boys and girls on our basketball
teams are leaders in school work. AII the players were taking four subjects and many were carrying one more
subject than is required."
Some of the names listed were: Edith Te Selle, Bertha TeSelle, Florence Te Selle, and Geneva Te Selle.
Firth High School also had an orchestra. Some of the members included Edith Te Selle, Roy Te Selle, Lloyd
Te Selle, Bertha Te Selle, Pearl Te Selle, Geneva Te Selle, Raymond Te Selle, and Florence Te Selle.
On June 1, 1964, school districts from the surrounding area towns consolidated to form Norris School District
No.160. The school is located between Firth and Hickman.
Rosehill School
Homestead Bill May 20, 1862
In his book, The Sod House Frontier by Everett Dick, Ph.D., he wrote: "The Homestead Bill became a law on
May 20,1862. It provided that 'any person who is the head of a family, or who has arrived at the age of
twenty-one years, and is a citizen of the United States, or who shall have filed this declaration of intention to
become such,' and who has 'never borne arms against the United States Government or given aid and comfort
to its enemies,' was entitled to one hundred and sixty acres of land in certain areas or eighty acres if taken in
more favorable locations. For example, only eighty acres could be taken within a railroad grant."
The law also allowed an ex-soldier of the Civil War who had served nine months to take one hundred and sixty
acres of land within the limits of a railroad grant, whereas all others could take only eighty acres.
Dick's book also reflects that homesteaders paid a filing fee when making application and were required to
make improvements within six months.
"On or before the expiration of that time, the homesteader had to be on the land and begin improvements. He
was further required to make it his permanent residence for five years from the date of the first papers. Any
time after that date, the settler could take out his final papers, provided, however, that he did it within seven
and one-half years after filing. This final process consisted of giving evidence that the conditions had been fulfilled."
John Henry Te Selle came to Nebraska in 1870
Homestead Granted to John Henry Te Selle
After residing in Wisconsin for about five years, John Henry Te Sel!e, his wife Hanna (Onnink), and their three
young children settled in Firth, Nebraska, in 1870. Shortly after his arrival in Nebraska, he applied for a
homestead in Lancaster County. This homestead has been in the family all these years. As of this date,
December 28, 2000, his grandson, also named John Henry Te Selle, owns this property. The younger John
Henry has the original copy of the homestead application. The application reads as follows:
Homestead Certificate No. 6285, Application 5626:, "THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, To all whom
these presents shall come, Greeting: WHEREAS There has been deposited in the General Land Office of the
United States a Certificate of the Register of the Land Office at Lincoln Nebraska, whereby it appears that
pursuant to the Act of Congress approved 20th May 1862, 'To secure Homesteads to actual Settlers on the
Public Domain,' and the acts supplemental thereto, the claim of John Henry Te SelIe has been established and
duly consum-mated, in conformity to law, for the
East half of the North West quarter of Section twenty-four in Township seven North of Range seven
East in the District of Lands subject to sale at Lincoln, Nebraska containing eighty acres according to
the Official Plat of the Survey of the said Land, returned to the General Land Office by the Surveyer General:
Now know ye, That there is, therefore, granted by the United States unto the said John Henry Te Selle the
tract of Land above described: To have and to hold the said tract of Land, with the appurtenances thereof,
unto the said John Henry Te Selle and to his heirs and assigns forever.
In testimony whereof, I, Rutherford B. Hays, President of the United States of America, have caused these
letters to be made Patent, and the Seal of the General Land Office to be hereunto affixed.
Given under my hand, at the City of Washington, the Thirtieth day of August, in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven and of the Independence of the United States ...
BY THE PRESIDENT: R. B. Hayes
By B. L. Lang, Secretary
S. W. Clark (?), Recorder of the General Land Office.
Recorded, Vol.,13, Page 244
On August 30, 1877, John Henry Te Selle was granted 80 (eighty) acres.
John Henry Te Selle's first home in Nebraska
Today (January 3, 2001), I visited by telephone with John Henry Te Selle of Firth. His grandfather, John
Henry Te Selle (1838), settled in Nebraska in 1870. I asked him if his grandfather and his family had to live in
a sod house after they first arrived to Nebraska. "Yes," he replied. The Encyclopedia Americana describes the
sod house as a typical prairie home in the frontier days in America because of a lack of timber.
"Furrows were turned over on about half an acre of ground, and the sod was cut into bricks about 3 feet (1
meter) long. For the first layer of the wall, these bricks were placed side by side around the foundation, three
deep, leaving room for a door.
"The cracks were filled with dirt. The joints were broken as in bricklaying, and every third layer was set
crosswise of the others to give them solidity.
"A door frame and two window frames were set in the sod wall, which was sometimes reinforced by hickory
withes (1) driven down into it. Poorer settlers made their roofs by covering the rafters with sheets of brush, then
prairie grass, placing sod over all. ...
"Affluent settlers had frame roofs, with sheeting nailed to the rafters and tar paper on top. Although sod
houses were cool in summer and warm in winter, their leaky roofs were troublesome."
John Henry Te Selle's Family Expanded
On December 10 1872, John Henry wrote his family in the Netherlands that he and his wife had a daughter
born on March 20,1872.
"She was well and active until the end of July, then she got the diarrhea. Day by day that got worse, until she
could not keep anything down. The Lord took her from our hands. On August 8, she passed away."
Then on June 1, 1875, Gerrit John Te SelIe wrote his family, "Brother John Henry had a young son whose
name is Hendrik. He has another son which you did not know of yet, whose name is Jan Albert. They are all
well and healthy."
Later, John Henry Te Selle's children were recorded on the Nebraska Census - Lancaster County. (See
Nebraska Census reports.)
John Henry Te Selle Became a Citizen of USA
John Henry Te Selle, born in the Netherlands in 1838, became a citizen on May 5, 1877. His grandson, John
Henry Te Selle of Firth, Nebraska, also has the document when the elder John Henry TeSelle became " A
Citizen Of The United States." (I attempted to type the information, but it was too dim. William III of
Orange-Nassau was King of the Netherlands at that time.)
Herman John Te Selle came to Nebraska in 1871
While living in Wisconsin, Herman John married a young widow, Mrs. John Schreurs, who had a small son,
Manus John (Manes Johannes). The former Berendiena Aleida (Reusink/Schreurs) owned a farm which
Herman John worked.
After residing in Wisconsin for about six years, Herman John, his wife and children settled in Firth, Nebraska,
in 1871.
Herman John Te Selle Applies for a Homestead
In 1958-1959, I queried my father, Benjamin F. Te Selle, one of his brothers, Herman and his wife, Jennie,
and two of his sisters (Harmina "Minnie" Te Selle-Dietz and Helena "Lena" Te Selle-Obbink concerning the
early days experienced by my grandfather, Herman John Te Selle, and his family, in both Wisconsin and
Nebraska. These siblings were children of Herman John and his second wife, Johanna Brethouwer-Te Selle.
My father, Benjamin F., did not have a middle name. When he became older, he included the "F" because he
and his cousin, also named Benjamin, often received each others mail by mistake.
My father did not know very much about his father. In all, Herman John Te Selle had 16 children. From the
first wife (Berendiena), were: Dela, Willem, and Berendiena Aleida (who died when an infant). From his
second wife Johanna, he had another Berendiena Aleida (Dina/Dena), Evert Jan, Albert, Helena (Lena),
Harmina (Minnie), Bertha Johanna, Herman Jan, Benjamin, Johanna (died when an infant), Jan Henderik,
Gerrit, Johanna Maria, and Corneleus (died when an infant). No doubt Herman John was
so busy making a
living for his "brood" that he did not have the time to relate to the past.
Shortly after his arrival in Nebraska, he applied for a homestead in Lancaster County. Herman John settled on
a farm one and one-half miles north of Firth. Another man had previously lived on the property.
Information obtained from the U.S. Land Office, Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1958, showed that on "March 23,
1870, the E1/2 (East one-half), Section 22, Range 7, Township 7, 80 acres, was entered by Hiram
Montgomery." On "February 5, 1872, Hiram D. Montgomery and his wife Emily were the grantor and H. J.
Teselle, the grantee." (The name Te Selle was misspelled twice, once as the grantee and another time as
Tesselle.)
My Aunt Minnie and Aunt Lena stated, "Montgomery was dissatisfied with Nebraska, so he moved back to
Missouri. Father paid $14 for filing fees."
The property remained in the Herman John Te Selle family for almost a century. A son, also named Herman
John (born 1888), and his wife Jennie, eventually became the owners and lived there until they moved into
town (Firth), in the early 1960's. Aunt Jennie commented, "When the elder Herman John and his family first
moved to the farm in 1871, there was a small frame-house. As the family grew larger, more was added on.
The barn was built in 1896. Herman (Jennie's husband) had remodeled some of it, but the main part of the barn
is the same. The house we now live in (1958) was built in 1918. None of the other buildings are in existence."
Herman John Te Selle Became a Citizen of USA
Herman John Te Selle's "Declaration of Intention" to become a citizen of the United States was filed in District
Court, Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Herman John became a citizen of the United States on May 5, 1877. (Source:
Nebraska State Historical Society, Naturalization Papers filed in District Court.)
Early Days in Nebraska
Aunt Lena and Minnie related stories they gleaned from their parents.
"Father encountered some problems during the first years he homesteaded. First, there was not much fuel to
keep them warm and to cook. They would gather "cow chips" (cow dung) and cornstalks to burn.
The corn wasn't worth much, 10 cents a bushel, so they used it for fuel. The next year, a grasshopper-plague
threatened the crops. They ate prairie chickens and gathered the eggs from the prairie chickens to eat and
bake. The next year, he raised a little more corn, wheat and oats.
"Father cut the wheat and oats with a hand sickle, put in bundles and threshed the wheat and oats with a flail*.
He shelled corn with a hand corn sheller.
* A flail is a manual threshing device, consisting of a long handle or staff and a shorter, free-swinging stick
attached to its end.
"Father and two or three neighbors loaded corn and wheat on their wagons and drove to Nebraska City, 50
miles from home, to have it ground for flour and cornmeal. He bought other groceries and dry goods. It took
them a couple of days to make the trip.
On occasion, Herman John would ride horse-back to Nebraska City to purchase items that were not raised on
the farm. "He carried the groceries home in a burlap sack."
Johanna's parents lived in Holland, Nebraska. She would carry a baby on one arm and a basket of eggs on the
other arm and walk from Firth to Holland, a distance of about four miles. She would leave the baby with her
mother, do the marketing and then walk back home with the baby and the basket of groceries.
The family planted trees for a nice grove and a good windbreak. They planted all kinds of fruit trees and a
large vegetable garden. They made a lot of vinegar from cider. This was for home use and to sell. They canned
fruit, made jelly from grapes, dried apples and corn and put green beans in salt brine to keep.
Their diet also included a lot of "cornbread and corn mush." Herman dug a cave to store potatoes, cabbage,
apples, carrots and turnips for winter use. The family butchered its own meat and cured it in salt brine. Hams
and bacon were smoked in a smokehouse. Uncle Herman and Aunt Jennie commented, "The older boys in the
family attended school in the winter when there was no farm work to do. When they came home from school,
they kept busy cutting and chopping wood to keep the house warm. 'Cow-chips' were used for kindling.
"The girls also helped with outside chores. In addition, they did the family washing by hand and ironed with
'old sad irons.' There was always a 'heap of cooking and dishwashing' to do." There were many children in the
household to feed and clothe. For entertainment, neighbors would get together in each others home within the
community. The girls would play the old organ and the rest would sing. The family enjoyed this, as that was
their main entertainment.
The first divine services of the Holland Church (Nebraska) were held in dugouts and from home to home.
Printed sermons were used for the weekly and Sunday meetings. Scripture was read, Dutch Psalms were sung
and prayers were offered.
"At first, all church services were conducted in the Dutch language. Later, some of the services were held in
the English language. Few of the younger children could carry on a full conversation in Dutch. They did,
however, know a little Dutch and could understand some of it. Since means of conveying (transporting) the
family to church were inconvenient in those days (some used their lumber wagons), families brought their
dinners on Sunday in order to attend both services.
"A small church building was used for services until it came overcrowded. A frame house was built from
lumber hauled from Nebraska City."
Herman John Te Selle's Family Expanded
On September 23, 1871, Herman John and Berendiena had a son, William.
In a letter dated June 1, 1875, Gerrit John Te Selle, a brother of John Henry and Herman John, who came to
Nebraska in 1873, wrote his family in the Netherlands, "Awhile ago the wife of brother Herman John lost a
lifeless child."
On March 4, 1876, Herman's wife had a daughter. She was named Berendiena Aleida for her mother . On
March 15, 1876, Gerrit John wrote to the family in the Netherlands:
"Brother Harmen Jan on March 4 got a young daughter and they have called her name Dina.
At the beginning all was well, but on the third day she became sick, and since is the mother passed away on the
11th this month at the age of 35 years. For her being in Christ , her passing away was gain. Peaceful and calm
in this manner she passed away in Christ. This was her highest joy and indicates her longing to be released and
to be with Christ. Here on earth she only could serve him in a poor/slightly way. Up there in heaven before the
throne of the Son in the line of angels she will be able to pay Him as he deserves, although now she has left
alone brother Harmen Jan with four uncared for children. He doesn't know what to do......"
I visited with Dillie (Te Selle/Ten Hulzen-Wubbels) during one of my trips to Nebraska in 1958 or 1959. Her
father was John Henry Te Selle, who came to Nebraska in 1870. She related that Herman John had offered a
married couple a place to stay until they found a place of their own. This lady also had a baby about the same
time as Herman John's wife. The lady nursed the newborn Te Selle baby after its mother died. Mrs. Wubbels
added, "The baby needed nourishment. Babies were not fed from a bottle during those days. The lady looked
after Herman John's other children until the couple moved away. The baby lived for awhile and died of
"summer complaint."
In August 1991, Herman Vander Griend gave me a Bible that had belonged to the Te Selle family. His mother
was Berendiena Aleida "Dena" (Te Selle) Van der Griend. This Bible may have been Herman John Te Selle's
first wife's Bible. The name of "Manes Johannes" is recorded on the page indicated, "Family Record."
(Manes Johannes Schreurs's mother was Berendiena Aleida (Reusink/Schreurs) Te Selle.)
AII of Herman John Te Selle's children are recorded. Of particular note is the birth of the baby girl born in
1876. The family record shows: "Berendiena Aleida Te Selle, Geboren den 4 Maart 1876, Overleden den 8
Augustus 1876."
Johanna Brethouwer was Herman John Te Selle's "Hired Girl"
Johanna Brethouwer was employed by Herman Te Selle as his "hired girl" to look after his
four children:
Manus John Schreurs, Dela, William, and baby Dina.
Marriage of Herman John Te Selle and Johanna Arnolda Brethouwer
I have a photocopy of the marriage certificate of "H.J. Te Selle and Johanna A. Brethouwer"; they were
married on "May Ninth, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Seventy-Six." She was born in Sheboygan,
Wisconsin, on April 7, 1859, and was the eldest child of Dr. Evert J. Brethouwer and his wife, Helena (Van De
Wege) Brethouwer. Witnesses were Martinus/Martienus(?) Van De Wege and Prinsen, Justice of The Peace. It
was also signed by Evert J. Brethouwer, Johanna's father. Johanna was about 17 when they were married.
The Brethouwers Lived in Wisconsin Before Going to Nebraska
Dr. Brethhouwer was a country doctor; both he and his wife were born in the Netherlands. His mother
(Arnoldina Johanna Jentink-Brethouwer) died about 1847 on voyage to USA; she was buried at sea. His
father, Tony Aalbernados Brethouwer died in 1882 in Wisconsin. In Wisconsin, the Brethouwers lived on a
small farm or acreage which contained maple trees. They would tap the trees to collect buckets of maple syrup
to use on the table and make candy. According to Aunt Minnie and Aunt Lena, it was the "only kind of candy
they had."
The Brethouwers later settled in Holland, Nebraska. Dr. Brethouwer had an office in his home. He pulled
teeth, delivered babies, had different kinds of pills for any ailment one might have. As Aunt Jennie once
remarked, "I guess he knew how to care for himself... he lived to be 93 years old."
Herman John Te SelIe's Family
Herman John Te Selle, born December 4, 1844, in the Netherlands, died on June 22, 1919. He is buried in the
Holland Cemetery (Nebraska.)
Berendiena Aleida (Reusink/Schreurs) Te Selle, born January 29, 1841; died March 11, 1876*. (Later I
learned that the first wife was also buried in the Holland Cemetery; she on one side of Herman John, and
Johanna on the other.)
Johanna Arnolda Brethouwer Te Selle, born April 7 1859; died December 21, 1927. Her name is on the
tombstone.
AII of Herman John Te Selle's children and their spouses are now deceased. I'm fortunate that I had made
contact with my father, Benjamin F. Te Selle, one of his brothers, Herman and his wife Jennie Te Selle, and
two of his sisters, Lena Te Selle Obbink, and Minnie Te Selle Dietz around 1958-1959 in order to obtain as
much information as I did from them.
* See letter 17
Gerrit John Te Selle
Gerrit John Te Selle's Family Arrived in The USA on August 20, 1873.
In 1989, Florence Te Selle Ten Hulzen, gave me information which showed that Gerrit Jan te Selle (Gerrit
John Te Selle, born 1841), arrived at the port of New York on the vessel "Edam" on August 20, 1873.*
Florence was the daughter of Jan Albert te Selle (John Albert, born 1869) and the granddaughter of Gerrit
John Te Selle.
* Research by Ellen TeSelle-Boal on the passenger lists of incoming emigrant vessels shows, however, that Gerrit Jan and his family members actually arrived on August 12, 1873, on board a ship by the name of "Maas". Research in Rotterdam
shows us that not until 1881 was a ship built for the Holland-America Line that received the name of "Edam".
The building of the ship "Maas" started in 1871 and the ship was delivered in October 1872. With this new
ship it was possible that the family could make the crossing in 16 days. (See letter 14) The "Maas" wrecked in
1884 in the Atlantic Ocean. Copies of the
passenger manifest from the "SS Maas" showing the Gerrit Te
Selle family can be viewed in the Memorabilia section of this
website.
G. J. Te Selle and Family Arrived in Nebraska on August 24, 1873
In a letter dated October 13, 1873, Gerrit John gives details of the family's trip from the Netherlands to
Nebraska:
"One more time I come back on my trip which was very successful and pleasant and going well. At least at sea I
had no sorrows, it was fun. I changed my money in Rotterdam at a rate of fl. 2,25 per dollar. The trip,
including food, was about fl. 145,- per person and the extra 300 kgs (660lbs) overweight was an additional $
21. We went on by rail, day and night and stayed awake from Tuesday to Sunday, except for Chicago. There
we had to cross town so we gave ourselves a treat and they brought into a hotel and later to the train. Then we
went on to Nebraska City, where we had to stay on Sunday with a person called Stroube. Good people! We
had three times a meal and slept there. They brought us to the railway station and helped us with everything,
and it cost only 6 dollars. Next day we went to Bennett and from there it was only nine miles to Holland
City. That's the name of the village here. City means stad. From there on an Englishman brought us here* and
we arrived on Monday. {*Possibly to Herman John Te Selle's home since HJT added a "P.S" to the letter.}
After that, I selected a plot of land to my liking and on Thursday I went to Lincoln and bought 80 acres of land
at $7.00 per acre. You'll probably say 'How can he do that?' It works out as follows: first you have to pay 6%
rent (down payment) immediately. Then for four years, I don't pay interest. After seven years, the whole
amount is due. It will cost 20% if payment is done in the third year, and I get 20% discount if I start in year 2
with the 40 acres. This is what everybody does. There is no registration fee. ..."
Gerrit John makes plans to build a house.
"The richer a man is, the nicer his house. Some people use sod on the outside, but in present times that's not
done any more. However, four years ago when the first habitants had to get their timber from a distance of 12
hours from here, and could not even use a barge, they had to do something. But now there exist trade stations
and cities: within a distance of 2 - 2½ miles there is only one, and now we have 2 stations and cities at 5, 1 and
9 miles away from us. Here the houses are erected using only timber and they are plastered (at slats) from the
inside. Everything is done very nicely, be it homes, churches, etc. All is done the same way. All things are done
by steam: planing as well as plowing. Doors and windows can be bought ready to use: nothing is missing. So I
bought material for 100 dollars, and together with W. Leverdink we built the house in 7 days. With two
people, a farmhouse can be built in 5 to 14 days, and if covered with a plywood roof, then these houses are
clean. Because you only have to sleep, eat, and cook for yourself in the house. There is not any cooking for
cattle, never.
Getting Acquainted With Farming Practices and Neighbors
In his October 13, 1873 Ietter, Gerrit also relates what farmers do to get their land ready for planting and
what takes place during harvesting.
Gerrit John commented,
"W. Leverdink is my closest neighbor. Obbink van de Haart also lives close to us. Brother Jan Hendrik lives
half a mile, or 800 steps from us. Kolste has bought 80 acres of land bordering my land, and now he wants to
lease or sell his other place, as he would rather live among Dutch people."
Gerrit John Te Selle's Family Expanded
On October 13, 1873, Gerrit John wrote his family in the Netherlands to report the birth of a daughter born
September 30, 1873. She was named Dela. Another daughter was born to Gerrit and his wife on March 4,
1875. She was named Dina.
"Uncle" Christian Graaskamp, Husband of Harmina died.
On June 1, 1875, Gerrit notifies his relatives in the Netherlands that "Uncle Christiaan" (Graaskamp) died on
May 29, 1875, at age 68. (This letter was also transcribed by Harry Steeghs.) Information received in 1990
from Dirk Willem Wilterdink, Winterswijk, reflects the following: Harmina was a sister of Jan Albert te Selle
(1800-1845), the father of the three Te Selle brothers who came to Nebraska. She was born in 1813 and was
married to Graaskamp in 1850. The Graaskamps came to America with the Gerrit John Te Selle family in
August 1873.
Gerrit John Te Selle's Family
A photocopy of a page in the family Bible (courtesy of Garrit Hietbrink and his daughter, Sharon Hietbrink
Krueger) shows the G. J. te Selle family:
"G. J. te Selle, Geb. 21 April 1841
Anna Jonkers, Geb. 9 Maart 1843
Albert te Selle, Geb. 17 September 1869
Wilmina Elizabet te Selle, Geb. 14 Sept.1871
Dela te Selle, Geb. 30 Sept. 1873
Dina te Selle, Geb. 4 Maart 1875
Willem te Selle, Geb. 30 April 1877
Jan te Selle, Geb. 8 October 1879
Anna te Selle, Geb. 24 JuIy 1882
Willem te SelIe, Gestorven, Sept. 11, 1900
Anna te Selle Jonkers, Gestorven Jan. 14, 1908."
Petition For Naturalization Gerrit John Te Selle
"No.545
United States of America
Petition For Naturalization
"To the Honorable District Court of Lancaster County, Nebraska,
The petition of Gerrit Jan Te Selle hereby filed, respectively showeth:
"First: My place of residence is Firth, Nebraska, RFD #2
"Second: My occupation is Farmer"
Third: I was born on the 21 day of April, anno Domini 1841 at Winterswijk, Holland.
"Fourth: I emigrated to the United States from Rotterdam, Holland on or about the 4 day of August anno
Domini 1873, and arrived in the United States at the port of New York, N.Y. on the 20 day of August anno
Domini 1873 on the vessel 'Edam.' (see also page 73!)
"Fifth: I declared my intention to become a citizen of the United States on the 1 day of JuIy anno Domini
1879, Lincoln, Nebraska in the District Court of Lancaster County, Nebr. (Note that Gerrit Jan Te Selle declared his intention to become a citizen on JuIy 1,1879. I wonder why he
waited until March 18, 1914, to file a naturalization application?)
"Sixth: I am married. My wife's name is Janna Te Selle. She was born Winterswijk, Holland and now resides at
Firth, Nebraska RFD #2.
"I have 6 children and the name, date and place of birth, place of residence of each said children is as follows:
Jan Albert , born September 16, 1869, at Bredevoort, Holland, resides at Firth, Nebraska. (Note: Jan Albert shows on his "Declaration of Intention" that he was born on September
17.)
Wilmina Elizabeth, born September 14, 1871, at Bredevoort, Holland, resides at Adams, Nebraska. (Note:
The family Bible shows no "h.")
Dela, born September 30, 1873, at Firth, Nebraska, resides at Dempter, So. Dakota
Dina, born March 4, 1875, at Firth, Nebraska, resides at Preston, Minnesota
Jan, born October 8, 1879, at Firth, Nebraska, resides at Firth, Nebraska
Anna, born JuIy 24, 1882, at Firth, Nebraska, resides at Holland, Nebraska"
"Seventh: I am not a disbeliever in or opposed to organized government or a member of or affiliated with any
organization or body of persons teaching disbelief to or opposed to organized government."
"I am not a polygamist nor a believer in the practice of polygamy. I am attached to the principles of the
Constitution of the United States, and it is my intention to become a citizen of the United States and to
renounce absolutely and forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or
sovereignty, and particularly to Wilhelmina Queen of the Netherlands of whom at this time I am a subject, and
it is my intention to reside permanently in the United States."
"Eight: I am able to speak the English language."
"Ninth: I have resided continuously in the United States of America for the term af five years at least,
immediately preceding the date of this petition, to wit, since the 20 day of August anno Domini 1873. and in
the State of Nebraska continuously next preceding the date of this petition, since the 24 day of August, being a
resident within this state of at least one year next preceding the date of this petition."
"Tenth: I have not heretofore made petition for citizenship to any court.
"Attached hereto and made a part of this petition are my declaration of intention to become a citizen of the
United States together with my affidavit and the affidavits of two verifying witnesses hereto, required by law.
Wherefore your petitioner prays that he may be admitted a citizen of the United States of America.
"(Signed) Gerrit Jan Te Selle"
Declaration of Intention filed this 18 day of March 1914.
(Note: This document was difficult to read, but the gist is that the petitioner understood what he signed.)
"The "Affidavits of Petitioner and Witnesses" were signed by Gerrit Jan TeSelle on 18 March 1914. The
witnesses were Henry J. Lubbers and J. H. TeSelle, both retired.
(Signed) J. Baer, Clerk,"
Oath of Allegiance by Gerrit John Te Selle
Gerrit John Te SelIe took the "Oath of Allegiance" to be admitted a citizen of the United States of America,
filed March 18, 1914.
The "Oath of Allegiance" document was too dim in places - but the "gist" is that Gerrit John renounced all allegiance to
Wilhelmina, Queen of the Netherlands (1880-1962) and will support and defend the Constitution and laws of
the United States of America.
Gerrit John Te Selle Became a Citizen of USA in 1914
The "Oath of Allegiance" was signed by Gerrit Jan Te Selle. "Subscribed and sworn to before me, in open
court, this 27th day of June A.D. 1914.
(Signed) J.Baer, Clerk."
Comment from NTP: After living in the United States since August 1873, I wondered why Gerrit John didn't
carry out his "intention to become a citizen" after he filed the initial request on
July 1, 1879? See "Petition for
Naturalization," Fifth item, "I declared my intention to become a citizen of the United States on the 1 day of
July anno Domini1879, Lincoln, Nebraska, in the District Court of Lancaster County, Nebraska."
Gerrit John Te Selle, a Member of Holland Church
Gerrit John served on the consistory of the Holland Church at the time of the church's 40th Anniversary in
1910.
Gerrit John Te Selle is buried at Holland (Nebraska) Cemetery.
Gerrit John Te Selle's first wife was Anna Jonker-Te Selle, born in Eibergen, The Netherlands, March 9, 1843;
she died in 1908. Her name appears on Gerrit's tombstone.
(Some of Gerrit John's descendants were not sure of Anna's name. In the Te Selle Family History by Norma Te
Selle Prophet in 1980, it was referred to as "Hannah Younkers" instead of Anna Jonker, her birthname.)
Gerrit John Te Selle's second wife was Janna Berendina Onnink-Sikkink, born Winterswijk June 19, 1839,
widow of Jan Albert Sikkink.
Her daughter, Minnie, was married to John Albert Te Selle, Gerrit John's son. In addition, Mrs. Sikkink's son,
John Berend Sikkink, was married to Dena Te Selle, Gerrit's daughter. Janna Berendina Onnink is buried in
Greenleafton, Minnesota next to her first husband. The three Te Selle brothers are all buried within a short
distance of each other at the Holland Cemetery.
John Albert Te Selle. Declaration of Intention
John Albert Te Selle was the eldest son of Gerrit John Te Selle. Born Bredevoort, city of Aalten, September
17 1869. He came to America with his parents in August 1873.
In 1913, John Albert Te Selle filed "Declaration of Intention" to become a citizen of the United States:
No. 1212
Department of Commerce and Labor Naturalization
Service, United States of America, Declaration of Intention. State of Nebraska,
County of Lancaster, in the District Court, of Lancaster County, Nebraska.
I Jan Albert Te Selle, age 44 years, occupation Farmer, do declare on oath that my personal
description is,
color white, complexion dark, height 5 feet 9½ inches, weight 150 pounds, color of hair grey, color of eyes
blue, other visible distinctive marks none.
I was born in Aalten, Holland, on the 17th day of September, Anno Domini 1869; and now reside at Firth,
Nebraska R.F.D. # 2.
I emigrated to the United States of America from Rotterdam, Holland, on the vessel Edam; my last foreign
residence was Aalten, Holland.
It is my bona fide intention to renounce forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate,
state, or sovereignty, and particularly to Wilhelmina, Queen of the Netherlands of whom I am now a subject. I
arrived at the port of New York in the State of New York on or about the 20th day of August, anno Domini
1873; I am not an anarchist; I am not a polygamist nor a believer in the practice of polygamy; and it is my
intention in good faith to become a citizen of the United States of America and permanently reside therein."
So Help Me God
(Signed) Jan Albert Te Selle
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 29th day of September Anno Domini 1913. *
Signed) J. Baer, Clerk
(* The date is hard to read on the photocopy. Jan Albert was born on September 17, 1869, and was 44 years
old when he declared his intentions to become a citizen.)
Prairie Fire Near Firth, Nebraska
One of nature's most dreaded hazards that faced the early Nebraska settlers were the prairie fires.
In his book, Write Back Soon, Dr. Herbert J. Brinks, Professor of History, Calvin College, Grand Rapids,
Michigan, refers to a letter written by Herman John Te SelIe to his older brothers and mother in Winterswijk,
the Netherlands. (See letter No.10, November 18, 1871.)
After living in Wisconsin for about five years, John Henry Te Selle and his brother, Herman John Te Selle,
relocated near Firth, Nebraska; John Henry came in 1870 and Herman John followed a year later.
In the late 1950s, I wrote to two of my father's sisters and asked them, "What was early life like in Nebraska
for your parents?" They heard the story about the prairie fire from their father, Herman John. The aunts,
Helena "Lena" Te SelIe-Obbink and Harmina "Minnie" Te Selle-Dietz, related, "Father plowed around his farm
with a one horse plow as a precautionary measure to halt the spread of the fire."
Excerpts from Dr. Brinks's book reflects the following:
"On Sunday, October 15, {1871}, we went to church in the morning and the wind was already blowing
terrifically ... Then, when we came out of church, we saw smoke in the distance because the prairie was on
fire. The prairie is all grass here and when it is dry, it burns tremendously ...and it can burn for miles. Thus, as I
said, as we came out of church we saw the fire. One man - his name is Nicholas Vander Velde - saw that it was
not far from his house. He was in church with his wife and two children, but had three children at home.... He
ran as fast as he could to go home, but then he saw that his house was nothing but ashes - his hay, grain, barn,
and pigs all burned. But that was not the worst. In the distance he saw something white
lying on the ground,
and he thought it was a calf, but as he came closer, he saw it was his oldest daughter burned to death. After
further search he found the two other children burned to death in the ruins of the house. There was also much
other destruction from the fire."
I contacted John Henry Te Selle, grandson of the pioneer John Henry Te Selle who came to Nebraska in 1870,
and asked him it he ever heard of the prairie fire story that occurred north of Firth. "Yes," he responded, "I
also heard the story. The Vander Veldes' farm was next to my grandfather's farm. It appeared that the oldest
daughter was running towards the Te Selle farm, possibly to get help. The Vander Veldes' home was a sod
house with dried grass on the roof. In those days, a particular type of grass, possibly like 'slough' grass, which
is long and dense, was grown on the sod house roof to help shed water when it rained. In October, the grass
would be dry , as well as the vegetation in the fields. No one seemed to know how the fire got started." The
late Florence (Te Selle) Ten Hulzen, also remembered hearing the tragic story. She had recalled being shown
where the Vander Veldes' sod house had stood. She was a granddaughter of Gerrit John Te Selle, a brother of
John Henry and Herman John. She also commented, "My father, John Albert Te Selle, later purchased the farm
where the Vander Velde's lived, and my grandfather, Gerrit John, also lived on the same property with my
parents and our family. However, he had his own dwelling place. A house was moved onto the property for him to live in."
The Nebraska Census Lancaster County, South Pass Precinct, August 1870 and June 1880 (source Nebraska
Historical Society), shows the Vander Velde family. (Although the census reports were written by hand, is it
probably the same family with slight variation in spelling.*)
(*) The August 1870 census shows:
VanDe Velde, Klass, 39, (M) Farmer
Dora, 37, (F) House
Anna, 11, (F) At school
Samuel, 4, (M)
Miena, 2, (F)
Jane, 1, (F)
(*) The June 1880 census shows:
VanDer Velde, Klaus, 49, Farmer
Dora, 47, (F), Wife, Keeping house
Samuel,14, (M), Son, At school
Anna, 9, (F), Daughter, At school
Please note: The names of Anna (11 ), Miena (2), and Jane (1), are not on the 1880 census. Another Anna (9)
is shown.
A note about Write Back Soon by Dr. Herbert J. Brinks, Professor of History, Calvin College, Grand Rapids,
Michigan.
The Bentley Historical Library of the University of Michigan sent scholars to Europe in search of
correspondence written by the immigrants of the last century. Dr. Brinks went to the Netherlands in 1976
where he spent six months locating and photocopying about 1,400 immigrant letters. Many of the letters were
discovered in the attics, cupboards and bookshelves of private homes and farms. After I read Dr. Brinks's
booklet, I asked him if it would be possible to provide me with photocopies of the letters written from 1865 to
1906 by the three Te Selle brothers who came to America. I had planned to locate people who could translate
the letters. However, because the letters were photocopies of photocopies , I was not successful in finding
someone to translate them.
In the meantime, Dirk Willem te Selle of Enschede, the Netherlands, was granted permission from Albert te
Selle of Winterswijk (who has custody of the Te Selle brothers' letters) to borrow them. Dirk prepared
typewritten copies of the Dutch letters so that those who were translating them into English, would have a
readable copy to facilitate their translations. Albert is the great-grandson of Derk Willem te Selle, the eldest of
the seven Te Selle brothers who were the children of Jan Albert te Selle and Dela ten Damme. Most of the
letters from the three Nebraska brothers, were written to the elder Derk Willem te Selle (born in 1827) and his
mother. In March 1991, I was able to have the letter transcribed that Dr. Brinks refers to in his book,
Write
Back Soon. The Reverend John Nieuwsma of Holland, Michigan, transcribed it into English.
In the summer of August 1993, my daughter, Su Zanna, and I visited with Albert te Selle in Winterswijk. We
had the privilege of holding and looking through the stack of century old letters!
Population Explosion
Nebraska Census - August 1870
Nebraska joined the Union on March 1, 1868; the first census was held in Nebraska,1870. The three Te Selle
brothers (John Henry, Gerrit John, and Herman John), helped to increase the population in eastern Nebraska!
In 1870, John Henry Te Selle and his family came to Nebraska from Wisconsin and homesteaded in Lancaster
County, South Pass Precinct.
Schedule 1.
Inhabitants in the County of Lancaster, State of Nebraska, enumerated by me on the 1st and 20th day of August
1870.
Post office Lincoln
(signed) J. Cadman,
Asst. Marshal.
9. Teselle, John H., 32, Farmer, born in Holland (Netherlands)
10. Hannah B., 28, (wife), housekeeper, born in Holland (Netherlands)
11. Janna, 4, daughter, born in Wisconsin
12. John W., 3, son, born in Wisconsin
13. Dala, 1, daughter, born in Wisconsin
(*There are slight misspellings of names, but this is the John Henry Te Selle.
Note: See the chapter on the
"Prairie Fire Near Firth, Nebraska." The Klaas Van De Velde Family..... numbered on the census report as 14,
15, 16, 17, 18, and 19 ...owned the farm next to John Henry Te Selle.)
Nebraska Census - June 1880
Inhabitants in South Pass Precinct, County of Lancaster, State of Nebraska, enumerated by me on the 4th
day, 5th day/and 7th day of June 1880.
(Signed) W. H. Moore,
enumerator.
Teselle, H. J., 35, Farmer, born in Holland (Netherlands)
Johanna, 21, wife, housekeeper, born in Wisconsin
John, (Manus John Schreurs, stepson) 15, farm hand, born in Wisconsin
Dille,12, daughter, At school, born in Wisconsin
Willie, 9, son
Dena, 3, daughter
Everett, 2, son.
(Note: Except for the stepson and "Dille," the other children were born in
Nebraska.) (*Although there are
names misspelled, this is the Herman John Te Selle family. John was "Manus John Schreurs" and the son of
Berendiena Reusink Schreurs Te Selle, Herman John Te Selle's first wife. She was also the mother of "Dille"
and Willie.)
Teselle, John H. , 41, Farmer, born in Holland (Netherlands)
Johanna, F, 38, wife, keeping house, born in Holland (Netherlands)
Jane, 14, daughter, At home, born in Wisconsin
John W., 13, son, At school, born in Wisconsin
Dille, 11, daughter, At school, born in Wisconsin
Albert, 7, son, At school
Andrew, 5, son, At home
Garret, 2, son, At home
Infant, ½, At home (fraction)
(Note: Jane, John W., and Dille were born in Wisconsin; the other children were born in Nebraska. The report
shows an "Andrew." This was possibly Henry. He was born 11 Feb.1875 and would have been 5 in 1880.
The "Infant" may have been Geziena (Zena). She was born 6 May 1880 and would have been 1 month old.)
Schedule 1. Inhabitants in Panama Precinct, in the County of Lancaster, State of Nebraska, enumerated by me
on the 2nd day of June, 1880.
(signed) L. R. (can't read last name.)
Enumerator .
Te Selle, Garret, 39, Farmer, born in Holland (Netherlands)
Anna, 36, wife, Keeping house, born in Holland (Netherlands)
Albert,10, son, At school, born in Holland (Netherlands)
Minna, 8, daughter, At school, born in Holland (Netherlands)
Dilla, 6, daughter, At school
Dina, 5, daughter, At school
Willem, 3, son
John, 6 months, son
Grasscamp, Harmina, 66, Aunt, born in Holland (Netherlands)
(Note: Albert was "John Albert." (Except for Albert and Minna, the other children were born in Nebraska.
Although the names were misspelled, this is the Gerrit John Te Selle family. Harmina Grasskamp was Gerrit's
aunt, his father's sister.)
Nebraska Census - June 1885
Schedule 1. Inhabitants in Panama Precinct in the County of Lancaster, State of Nebraska, enumerated by me
on the 3rd day of June, 1885.
(signed) T. ? Hoffsteedt,
Enumerator .
32. Te Selle, Garret, 44, carpenter , born in Holland (Netherlands)
33. Annie, 42, wife, keeps house, born in Holland (Netherlands)
34. Albert,15, son, farmer, born in Holland (Netherlands)
35. Minnie, 12, daughter, At school, born in Holland (Netherlands)
36. Dillie, 11, daughter, At school
37. Dina, 10, daughter, At school
38. WiIIiam, 8, son
39. Jan, 5, son
40. Annie, 2, daughter
41. Graskamp, Hermine, 72, (Aunt) keep house, born in Holland (Netherlands)
(Note: Albert was John Albert. Hermine Graskamp was Gerrit's
aunt, his father's sister; except for the first two children, the others were
born in Nebraska.)
Schedule 1. Inhabitants in South Pass Precinct, in the County of Lancaster, State of Nebraska, enumerated by
me on the 10th day of June, 1885.
(signed) J. C. Alexander,
Enumerator.
30. Teselle, John W., 18, son, farmer, born in Wisconsin
31. Teselle, John H., 47, farmer, born in Holland (Netherlands)
32. Annie B., 43, wife, Keeping house, born in Holland (Netherlands)
33. Dielia, 16, daughter, At school, born in Wisconsin
34. Albert, 12, son, At school
35. Henry, 10, son, At school
36. Garrit, 8, son, At school
37. Jina A., 5, daughter
38. Ben. H., 1, son
39. Dena, ? , daughter
(Note: No.30 was out of order on the census report. John W. was the eldest son of John Henry. The
instructions indicate "Members of Families who have died since June 1, 1885, will be included." Dena died in
childhood, but I don't know the date. Except for John W. and Dielia, the other children were born in
Nebraska. There are some misspellings on this census report, however, this was the John Henry Te Selle
family.)
South Pass Precinct,
16th day of June 1885:
28. Teselle, Herman, 40, Farmer, born in Holland (Netherlands)
29. Johanna, 26, wife, keeping house,born in Wisconsin
30. John, 20, son, Farmer, born in Wisconsin (stepson)
31. Della, 17. daughter, At school, born in Wisconsin
32. William, 13, son, At school
33. Dina, 8, daughter, At school
34. Evert J., 6, son, At school
35. Albert, 4, son
36. Helen, 2, daughter
37. Hermana, 11/12 (fraction)
(Note: Except for Herman John Te Selle's stepson, John Schreurs, and Della, the other children were born in
Nebraska. Some of the names are misspelled, however, this is the Herman John family.)
Nebraska Census - 1900
Twelfth Census of the United States of Nebraska, County Lancaster.
Schedule No. 1 Population. Township or other division of County South Pass Precinct, Name of
incorporated city, town, or village within the named division. Firth Village... Enumerated by me on the 7, 8,
and 13 day of June, 1900.
(signed) Benj. Oldemeyer,
Enumerator.
70. Te Selle, Albert, Head, June 1872, (age*, 27, Farmer
71. Hannah, wife, Feb. 1877, 22
72. Mammie, daughter, Mar. 1900, 2½ (fraction)
73. Jennie, visitor, July 1893, 6, At school
(Note: *Indicates age at last birthday; Albert was the second son of John Henry Te Selle, pioneer to Nebraska.
Daughter Mammie, passed away on February 17, 2001 at age 100!)
84. Te Selle, Herman J., Head, Dec.1844. (age*) 55, Farmer, born in Holland (Netherlands)
85. Johanna, wife, April 1859. 41. born in Wisconsin
86. Evert J., son, 21, Farm laborer
87. Albert, son, 20, Farm laborer
88. Helena, daughter, July 1882, 17
89. Minnie, daughter, July 1884, 15, At school
90. Bertha, daughter, Jan. 1887, 13, At school
91. Herman J., son, Aug. 1888,11, At school
92. Benjamin, son, Nov. 1889, 10, At school
93. John H., son, June 1892, 7
94. Garret, son, Aug. 1893, 6
95. Johannah M. , daughter, Sept. 1895,4
96. Te Selle, John H., Head, Feb. 1838, (age *) 62. born in Holland (Netherlands)
97. Hannah, wife, Oct. 1841, 58. born in Holland (Netherlands)
98. Garret, son, Feb. 1877, 22, Farm laborer
99. Sena, daughter, May 1880, 20
100. Benjamin, son, Jan. 1884, 16,Farm laborer
(*Age at last birthday)
48. Te Selle, Henry, Head, Feb. 1875,(age *) 25, Farmer
49. Martha, wife, Sept. 187(?), 22
50. Carl, son, Jan. 1900, 4/12 (fraction)
(* Age at last birthday.)
Van der Griend, D., Head, July 1869, (age *) 30, Farmer, born in Holland (Netherlands). (Year of
immigration to the United States, 1884; number of years in the United States - 15.)
Dena**, wife, April 1876, 23
Marius, son, June 1899, 11/12 (fraction )
(*Age at last birthday.)
(**Dena Te Selle-Vander Griend, was the daughter of Herman John Te Selle and his second wife Johanna
Brethouwer- Te SelIe.)
Te Selle, J. A., Head, Sept. 1869, (age*) 30, Farmer, born in Holland (Netherlands)
Minnie, wife, Oct. 1868, 31, born in Wisconsin
Anna, daughter, March 1893, 7
Jenne, daughter, May 1895, 5
Emma, daughter, Sept. 1897, 2
(* Indicates age at last birthday)
(Source: Census-Nebraska Historical Society)
Reports on "PRODUCTION OF AGRICULTURE "
John Henry Te Selle
Production of Agriculture in South Pass Precinct, Lancaster County, Nebraska, enumerated on June 9, 1885,
by J. C. Alexander, for the farm owned by John Henry Te Selle.
Acres of Land
- 263 acres improved, tilled (including fallow and grass in rotation, whether pasture or meadows)
- 147 acres permanent meadows, permanent pastures, orchards, vineyards
Farm Values
- $ 15,000 (including land, fences, and buildings)
- $ 250 (including implements, and machinery)
- $ 2,110 (livestock)
Fences
- $ 250 (including cost of building and repairing in 1884)
Labor
- $ 225 (amount paid for wages and farm labor during 1884, including value of board)
- 50 weeks (hired labor in 1884 upon farm and dairy, excluding housework)
Estimated Value of Farm Products (sold, consumed or on hand for 1884)
Grass Lands -1884
- 147 acres mown
- 147 tons hay
Horses
Meat Cattle and Their Products
- 7 milk (milch) cows (June 1, 1885)
- 17 other cattle
- 9 calves dropped
- 7 sold living
- 2 died, strayed and stolen and not recovered
- 2,000 gallons of milk sold or sent to butter and cheese factories 1884
- 40 pounds of butter made on the farm in 1884
Swine (on hand June 1, 1885)
Poultry (on hand June 1, 1885, exclusive of spring hatching)
Eggs Produced in 1884
Cereals (1884)
- Buckwheat - 1 acre/4 bushels
- Indian corn - 127 acres/5,500 bushels
- Oats - 16 acres/600 bushels
- Wheat - 20 acres/400 bushels
Pulse (edible seeds of certain pod bearing plants such as peas and beans)
- Beans (dry) -1 bushel (1884)
Potatoes (Irish)
Gerrit John Te Selle
Production of Agriculture in Panama Precinct, Lancaster County, Nebraska, enumerated on June 4, 1885, by
Mr. Hoffetraedt, for the farm owned by Gerrit John Te Selle.
Acres of Land
- 80 acres improved, tilled (including fallow and grass in rotation, whether pasture or meadows)
- ½ acre, permanent meadows, permanent pastures, orchards, vineyards
- 79 acres unimproved, including "old fields" not growing wood
Farm Values
- $ 3,000 (including land, fences, and buildings)
- $ 40 (including implements and machinery)
- $ 700 (livestock)
Fences
- $ 140 (including cost of building and repairing in
1884)
Labor
- $ 50 (amount paid for wages and farm labor during 1884, including value of board)
- 12 weeks (hired labor in 1884 upon farm and dairy,
excluding housework)
Estimated Value of Farm Products (sold, consumed or on hand for 1884)
Grass Lands -1884
- 20 (?) acres mown
- 2 acres not mown
- 20 tons of hay
Horses
- 3 of all ages (June 1885)
Meat Cattle and Their Products
- 9 milk (milch) cows (June 1, 1885)
- 12 other cattle (June 1, 1885)
- 6 calves dropped
- 2 died, strayed and stolen and not recovered
- 250 pounds of butter made on the farm in 1884
Swine (on hand June 1, 1885)
Poultry (on hand June 1, 1885, exclusive of spring hatching)
Eggs Produced in 1884
Cereals (1884)
- Indian corn - 50 acres/1,808 bushels
- Oats - 13 acres/350 bushels
- Wheat - 13 acres/100 bushels
Potatoes (Irish)
Sorghum 1884
- ½ acres (crop)
- 12 gallons molasses
Orchards 1884
Herman John Te Selle
Production of Agriculture in South Pass Precinct, Lancaster County, Nebraska, enumerated on June 16, 1885,
by J. C. Alexander, for the farm owned by Herman John Te Selle.
Acres of Land
- 160 acres tilled, improved (including fallow and grass in rotation, whether pasture or meadows)
- 45 acres permanent meadows, permanent pastures,
orchards, vineyards
Farm Values
- $ 3,000 (including land, fences, and buildings)
- $ 100 (including implements, and machinery)
- $ 1,400 (livestock)
Fences
- $ 375 (including cost of building and repairing in
1884)
Estimated Value of Farm Products (sold, consumed or on hand for 1884)
Grass Lands -1884
- 15 acres mown
- 25 tons hay
Horses
- 6 of all ages (June 1885)
Meat Cattle and Their Products
- 9 milk (milch) cows (June 1, 1885)
- 27 other cattle (June 1, 1885)
- 8 calves dropped
- 1 purchased
- 4 sold living
- 1 died, strayed and stolen and not recovered
- 800 pounds of butter made on the farm in 1884
Swine (on hand June 1, 1885)
Poultry (on hand June 1, 1885, exclusive of spring hatching)
Eggs Produced in 1884
Cereals (1884)
- Indian corn - 84 acres/4,500 bushels
- Oats - 13 acres/260 bushels
- Rye - 4 acres/48 bushels
- Wheat - 18 acres/188 bushels
Pulse (edible seeds of certain pod bearing plants such as peas and beans)
- Beans (dry) - 2 bushels (1884)
Potatoes (Irish)
- ½ acre/50 bushels ( 1884 )
Orchards
- 12 bearing trees
- •2 acres - 2 bushels Total value of orchard products of all kinds sold or consumed, $ 2
(Source: Nebraska Historical Society)
1.
Withes: a tough supple twig used for binding things together.
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