Scope and Contents
Christiaan Marinus Den Herder, son Jacob, and grandson Christian J., were amateur historians. Their papers include primarily memoirs and Zeeland local history. Nearly all of their papers are written in their native Dutch language. Perhaps the best known of Jacob’s work is his history of the Zeeland Colony that he wrote for the Semi-Centennial celebration of the Holland Kolonie in 1897. This is the only essay in the family collection that has been translated. Christian J. composed several essays of the history of the Sunday School of the First Reformed Church of Zeeland and instructional materials. He also wrote a few essays on the early Church Fathers such as Polycarp.
Dates
- Creation: 1855 - 1949
Creator
- Den Herder Family (Family)
Biographical Information
The Den Herder family migrated from the Netherlands to Zeeland, Michigan, in 1847. The parents of the family were Christiaan Marinus den Herder, born in 1796 in Borselen, Zeeland, the Netherlands, and his wife, Cornelia de Jonge, born in 1794. They had three sons and three daughters: Jan, Marinus, Jacob, Jannetje, Janna, and Neeltje.
The majority of the papers in this collection are from Jacob, born in Borselen ca. 1833 and died in 1916. He was married to Adrianna Klaassen in 1856. Jacob and Adrianna had four children: Christian J., George, Mary (Mrs. Matthew Kolyn), and Mrs. James Ossewaarde.
The children of Christian J. who was married to Johanna Bosch were Jay, Harmon, Edward and Mrs. Margaret Vander Velde.
When Randall P. Vander Water published A Walk Through Time: Pictorial History of Zeeland, Michigan in 2005, several Den Herders were pictured. Jan Den Herder and the Hon. Jacob Den Herder are shown in the 1887 photo of Zeeland pioneers, (p. 6). Jacob Den Herder is shown on p. 23 in the laying of the cornerstone of the Zeeland State Bank in 1909. Christian Den Herder also appears in this photo. In a 1919 photo of Zeeland veterans of World War I on p. 41, Edward Den Herder and Harmon Den Herder are pictured.
The Den Herders became a prominent Zeeland, Michigan, family after Jacob founded the Den Herder Bank. It became the Zeeland State Bank, and then First Michigan Bank in 1958. The Huntington Bank of Columbus, Ohio, acquired FMB in 1997. The Den Herders, as a prosperous clan, became involved in many Zeeland and Holland businesses.
The Den Herders are mentioned in many published works: History of Ottawa County, Michigan, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers; Netherlanders in America by Jacob Van Hinte; Life and Times of Jannes Van de Luyster, Founder of Zeeland, Michigan by Rev. Henry Beets; Historic Grand Haven and Ottawa County by Leo C. Lillie; Legends of the Dutch by Adrian Van Koevering; and in two books by Henry S. Lucas: Netherlanders in America and Dutch Immigrant Memoirs and Related Writings.
Extent
0.50 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Dutch; Flemish
Abstract
The Den Herder family migrated from the Netherlands to Zeeland, Michigan, in 1847. The parents of the family were Christiaan Marinus den Herder, born in 1796 in Borselen, Zeeland, the Netherlands, and his wife, Cornelia de Jonge, born in 1794. They had three sons and three daughters: Jan, Marinus, Jacob, Jannetje, Janna, and Neeltje.
The majority of the papers in this collection are from Jacob, born in Borselen ca. 1833 and died in 1916. He was married to Adrianna Klaassen in 1856. Jacob and Adrianna had four children: Christian J., George, Mary (Mrs. Matthew Kolyn), and Mrs. James Ossewaarde.
The children of Christian J. who was married to Johanna Bosch were Jay, Harmon, Edward and Mrs. Margaret Vander Velde.
The Den Herders became a prominent Zeeland, Michigan, family after Jacob founded the Den Herder Bank. It became the Zeeland State Bank, and then First Michigan Bank in 1958. The Huntington Bank of Columbus, Ohio, acquired FMB in 1997. The Den Herders, as a prosperous clan, became involved in many Zeeland and Holland businesses.
Christiaan Marinus Den Herder, son Jacob, and grandson Christian J., were amateur historians. Their papers include primarily memoirs and Zeeland local history. Nearly all of their papers are written in their native Dutch language. Perhaps the best known of Jacob's work is his history of the Zeeland Colony that he wrote for the Semi-Centennial celebration of the Holland Kolonie in 1897. This is the only essay in the family collection that has been translated. Christian J. composed several essays of the history of the Sunday School of the First Reformed Church of Zeeland and instructional materials. He also wrote a few essays on the early Church Fathers, such as Polycarp.
Provenance
Den Herder Family
- Status
- Completed
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Hope College Archives and Special Collections Repository
Van Wylen Library
53 Graves Place
Holland Michigan 49423 United States
616-395-7798
archives@hope.edu
