Leennouts Family Sketch
(based on tradition and reminiscence by Mrs. Martina Kotyis Rietveld)
When the Edict of Nantes was revoked in 1685, the Christians in France were once more
deprived of their liberties. About 50,000 Huguenots were driven from their homes and
country, large numbers of whom went directly to America, while others fled to Holland.
Among the latter were families later known as Zwemer, Toussaint, Lefeber, and Leenhouts.
The original spelling of some of the names was lost. These refugees settled in the
lowlands of Holland in the province of zeeland.
There were four Leenhouts brothers. They purchased large tracts of duneland on the Island
of Walcheren or on the mainland of zecuwach Vlaanderen. Here they became very prosperous.
One of these brothers was the great-grandfather of Pieter Leenhouts, our ancestor, who was
born March 16, 1780. He was one of a family of several brothers and one sister. (Leenhouts
is still a common name in Zeeland) . In due time Pieter Leenhouts married Janna Haartsen,
a lady of refinement and unusual charm. They lived on a large estate near Schoondyke,
where they prospered. As the years went by they became the parents of a large family,
seven sons and six daughters. They also took in a grandson, Isaac.
It so happened that one of the brothers of Pieter Leenhouts died and left a family of
small children, who became the heirs of a considerable sum of money. Leenhouts was made
guardian for the orphans. The greater part of the money was distributed as loans to the
relatives. When the orphans reached majority and the estate was to be settled, it was
found that the money had been spent. Leenhouts had to make good the loss, so he was forced
to sell most of his property, and he also adopted one of the orphans named Pieter.
For some time there had been religious persecution in the Netherlands so the 68-year-old
Leenhouts began to consider emigrating to America, the land of liberty and opportunity.
Since the 1830's several colonization projects had been undertaken to Michigan, Iowa,
Illinois, and Wisconsin. Accordingly, Pieter Leenhouts decided to leave the homeland. With
most of his family he set sail from Rotterdam in the spring of 1848. (The Kommers and
Kotvis families left the Netherlands the following year.) They crossed the English
Channel, and at Liverpool they boarded a sailing vessel bound for New York, where they
arrived safely several weeks later after a stormy voyage. (When the wife of the captain of
the sailing vessel came to bid her husband goodby, she noticed a venerable elderly couple,
and prevailed on her husband to take them and their two unmarried daughters in as cabin
passengers, so they were transferred from the steerage quarters to a more comfortable
place.)
On arrival in New York they were rather ill, and were commended to the care of the Rev.
Mr. wykhoff. On recovery, the families continued their westward journey and landed at
Milwaukee. Some of the family eventually made their home there, but the majority, along
with the parents, presently settled in the town of Franklin, Milwaukee County, about a
dozen miles from the city of Milwaukee.
Susanna, Jannes, and Willem soon left for the Dutch settlement in and around Zeeland.
Jannes here contracted an illness that led to his death in the early 1850's. His last
words reflect his youth "only in my early twenties! Is this the life that promised so
much?".
There is no available information on the adopted son Pieter nor the grandson Isaac; but
tradition has it that Isaac went farther West and settled there.
The church that was organized in Franklin in the early days existed for somewhat more than
a half century, but never flourished, yet it testified to a religious ancestry. The second
and last church building was designed by Cornelius Leennouts, Jr., of Milwaukee.
During these several decades Dutch was the principal language spoken in Franklin. In the
course of time a change to English came about; the old folks died, and many of the younger
generation left to try their fortunes elsewhere. Consequently, the congregation, never
large, dwindled until services were finally discontinued. The church building remained on
the original site, but was remodeled and made into a home. And so along with the others
such names as Lankester, Baden, Wouters, Rademaker were lost from the Franklin annals.
Thus we find that once again in history governmental attitude was the cause of a migration
which transplanted a segment of a country's population from the Old World to the New,
affecting the future of thousands yet to be born.
Since 1939 there has been a yearly gathering, usually on the second Saturday in June, of
the descendants of Pieter Leenhouts and Janna Haartsen. The best attendance of all these
gatherings took place in 1948, the centennial year, in Franklin under the trees of the old
Kotvis farm. It is these yearly gatherings that sparked the idea of producing this
genealogy. Those "Who worked on this family record have reached a few conclusions (l)
God has richly blessed these emigrants and their 'little ones" and "saved much
people alive"; (2) the years since 1848 have been good years in that this family
could be a part of America during her century of growth and prosperity; (3) and in the
matter of records and human interest reminiscence, too late has resulted in too little.
Letter written by Pieter Leenhouts to the various members of his family. It was
written soon after his arrival in Wisconsin. The translation was made by Jacob A. Daim, an
attorney in Kalamazoo, Michigan, at the request of Miss Josephine Leenhouts.
Milwaukee, September 25, 1848
Dear family:
It has pleased the Lord to provide for us a place to live here in America. We are planning
to leave for Michigan on the 7th, and we thought it best to take a few days rest. It
pleased the Lord to. arrange it so that when we left the boat we met some country folk
with whom we became acquainted, and who provided a house for us, however without windows
and doors. In this house we were permitted to live, eighteen of us, for $3 per week, and
we have been there since then.
During this time we had the opportunity to inquire about transportation, because we were
always planning to go to Michigan. We have become acquainted with J. de Vos, who formerly
lived at Breskens, and who has a son who speaks good English, and of which fact we have
made good use. He advised us to look around for wood land of which we might make use.
However, we have changed our mind about that on account of the difficult and impassable
roads and we have definitely determined to go to Michigan.
Not long ago we received a visit of a countryman named Jacob Verdouw, who helped in
America at harvest time. He told us that his boss was planning to sell his farm,
consisting of 200 acres, of which 80 acres is wood land and 120 acres prairie and pasture,
of which latter 40 acres are tillable and suitable for wheat, oats, corn, white beans and
potatoes; the potatoes however have been spoiled by smut, and so I have, as carefully as
possible, investigated this land for the reason that it seemed to me that providing the
price is right we should not overlook the opportunity because our complete household would
be able to make a very comfortable existence with the Lord's blessing. The price would
average $14 per acre, and that would include all his stock and tools, except his horses
and wagon.
I have bought a lot in Milwaukee on Holland Hill for Izak Mersseman consisting of 54 rods
and a dwelling in which Levina Leenhouts is living. This is close by and she is planning
to build a house separate for herself.
I could write you a good deal about the big journey we have made, but I will put it off to
some time in the future, hoping that it may please the Lord to continue us in life and in
health, because we all have suffered much. Kornelis has been very sick, and Jannis, who
still is in Michigan, has been deathly sick, of which fact we have received news on August
27th by Mr. Houtkamp who told us he was in serious condition. However, the doctors have
observed some change in his illness so that there may be some hope for his recovery.
Thereupon Susanna on September 3rd has left with Houtkamp and site promised that in the
event he did not show signs of improvement to send us a message by express, and in the
event we received no news we could hope for an improvement in his condition. Accordingly
we have some guarantee of improvement because we have received no message. My wife also is
weak, and all of us are now and then suffering from colds and fevers, and everyone has to
be very careful of himself on account of the change of air, food and drink. I also want to
let you know that Abram came with Houtkamp and that Pieter remained with Jannis. I think I
have given you a very short insight in the condition in which we are now living. We are
very anxious to get some news from our dear relations and all good friends, and to learn
how everything is going in our dear fatherland, because here in America we are receiving
very unfavorable news that all commerce in America is idle except the immigrants who
arrive shipload after shipload, so that many of them are unable to obtain work and are at
a loss to know how to get through the winter. We are very anxious to receive news of our
nearest relatives and of all our good friends, in regard to their physical and spiritual
well-being, and whether or not some of them may not have exchanged the temporary for an
eternal condition. It would indeed be very pleasing to us if the Lord would permit us to
see each other face to face where we are, because the country around here is very good,
and in this vicinity there is much land to be had which is just as good as that which I
have. There is even a small house for sale here with one acre of ground; a good house for
the sum of $500, which is the equivalent of 1350 guilders in Dutch money, and this is
located but one-quarter hour's journey from our house. We also hear that around about here
there is quite a lot of work to be had, and a hired man could find work and make a living
because he earns quite a little in odds and ends and with horses. It costs only $1 to shoe
a horse all around. If necessary you could keep two cows because my pasture is only 15
minutes away. However, I do not insist that you shall come, but I would like to have you
think it over. I would also like to know how the harvest has come out and what the price
was of the crops and also this and that about the Estate of Luisleeren, whatever you may
know about that.
I must stop now. We send our greeting to you and yours, and remain in expectation to
receive a letter from you dear ones. May the Lord give us health, peace, faith and charity
through the Holy spirit for the sake of His great Name. We have the honor to remain
respectfully your servants.
-Pieter Leenhouts and Janna Haartsen