Historical Reading of
Cornelis and Adriana Ver Steegt
This is a translation of a Historical
Reading compiled by Pieter van Oosterom and read at the 50th Anniversary of
Cornelius and Adriana (de Hoop) Ver Steegt in Holland, October 16, 1922 It was rewritten by a daughter of
Mergje and Lourens Rynveld on Nov. 15, 1926. Translated in 1983 by John Boerefyn of
Leighton, Iowa, from a copy given to his brother, Cornelius Boerefyn when he
visited The Netherlands in 1976. Typed and printed by Marlene Dykstra
(daughter of John Boerefyn) of Carmel, Iowa. 51247. This internet version
of the reading is typed by Bianca Versteegt in January 2002. Aat Versteegt made
some graphical improvements to the story.
If you can imagine yourself
being in the Netherlands and
finding
the town of Schoonhoven and turning east on the way, you would soon se three
windmills which are slowly turning in the mild breezes. We pass up the first one
and we come to the second one and we see and meet the miller and his wife, the
Ver Steegt’s and their two sons: Johannes and Cornelius, all busy at work.
How solitary and lonely a life like
this seems to be as we observe them at work from day to day. However solitary
and lonely it may seem, these people do get out and around especially the young
folks when they reach the age of twenty years or so, they do cast their eyes
upon the opposite sex. The older folks work all day and then
in the evening, by candle light or lamp, they continue to knit or otherwise. And
so life goes on from day to day.
If we think this is all that there is
to it we soon find out we are mistaken, for we are informed that the youngest
son of the Ver Steegt’s has his eye upon a farmers daughter. He soon had
established a friendship with her and perhaps more than a little friendly
conversation. For soon it was established from both
sides that on October 16, 1827, they would get married. And so they started a new life at the
age of twenty-one. And not knowing what this venture will bring them, often it
seems that it will always be rosy, but we do prick ourselves with thorns, too. To us marriage seems on the level but
often we go over hills and through valleys.
As the years fly by as they sail upon
the matrimonial sea, a rich blessing is experienced by them. Both man and wife
showed love to each other and peace and joy reigned in this family.
Ten years went swiftly by and a
person would say it will always stay this way, but alas! It was not so. Changes
were sure to come and they did come. The mother of the family, Adriana, had to
take her mother to a grave, that caused her much sorrow of heart. Yes, every day
brought much concern for different things. And then the news was spread that the
Ver Steegt’s were going to move.
Now that in itself did not seem
strange. It was natural in that day and age, but we hear from reliable sources
that they are going to America. Far away from Holland it seems they had a place
picked out. Yes, and soon preparations were made. Trunks and suitcases were
packed and soon the day arrived that they left Lopik
and they finally came to Antwerp harbor, strangers they were there: man, woman
and eight children. And the time arrived that the ship was to leave. All were
aboard and the ship started to move and soon there was no more land in sight.
“There they go, yes, but where will
they go”.
Water and more water and everything
around them is water. They pass by England and on they go.
Finally
the harbor of New York comes in sight. And finally the big sea castle docks in
the harbor. All passengers leave the ship and are greeted by relatives and
friends who have not seen each other for years.
The family of Ver Steegt also do so and
there they stand in that strange land, and nobody seems to know them, nor offers
them a hand or friendship. They have to go further. Their trip does not end
here.
They started a 100 hour trip further in
that great America. The people in Holland just can’t imagine what that is like –
a trip like that. This trip also brought them some sorrow: death took a dear
child away from them and upon arrival upon American soil they had to leave it
behind. With a deep sigh and burden of heart, man , wife and seven children go
on further.
Finally they came to their destined
place in North Dakota. There they rested from the long journey far from Holland.
In a small hut they sat down. The trunks served as a table; that was the extent
of their furniture. What to do now? Their trip had come to an end. And son the
head of the family was going about and thought was the owner of a parcel of
land. However, it was also soon brought to light that somehow the transactions
were not done with an honest dealer but a swindler. And the result was that the
parcel of land was taken away from them. What to do now?
After man and wife consulted with each
other they came to this conclusion: to return back to Holland. Now, this is the
way it had to be, else this our American had never returned because they had set
their heart on America, and this they fulfilled.
And
so, after a few weeks the trip back was begun. The ship that could take them
back to their native land was ready to go.
But soon the cares and worries of life
were to be upon her, because they had not traveled very far and her husband
became very ill (what they call sea sick). Many anxious moments she experienced.
What shall she do? But she knows H who had guided them thus far and that God
will further guide them. Her prayer was answered and soon there was a change,
and health was restored and man, woman and children stepped ashore in Holland.
And as they go farther, they again see
Schoonhoven and with a farmers wagon they are transported on Schoonhovens
streets again, and everybody greets them again in the place they had left.
But that place was now occupied by
someone else. What now? There they stand without any money and place, and we can
say as the saying goes, “as poor as Job of old”.
But the head of the house did not set
down and mope but went out to see what his hands could find to do. What would he
find to do?
They found a small house on the Lek
dyke and so they moved in. And he tried first to be a salesman, not in a big way
but just in a small way. And with a small satchel filled with yarn that you use
to knit stockings, he started out his journey on the street, but when he showed
his wares and tried to sell, he received the answer “don’t need anything today,
salesman”. And so he would travel on from place to place ad his earnings were
very meager, and that poverty was number one in the household you can well
understand. Just to mention one thing, the outside leaf of a cabbage head that
people discarded, they picked up so that hey had some vegetable to eat. That is
how poor they were.
And, also, the little girls had to go
to school turn-about because they only had one dress between the two of them.
No, this could not go on this way.
There had to be a change. But what change to undertake. So he decided to go
sailing; not as a pilot or captain, but as a helper.
He started in with one of his
brothers-in-law offshore but it was working day and night and he could not earn
enough to support his family. And besides this, they could not get along
together so that sometimes it got so bad that they could have tossed each other
over board if they just had not quickly gone ashore.
As a day laborer on a truck farm was
not his lot either.
His wife tried to go out as a
seamstress and help different people with sewing and in that way provide for
daily necessities.
Yes this poverty brought to both of
them Love and the rich blessing of health and Strength. Great was their poverty,
and we can’t imagine how this could be so. And yet be thankful about it. But
there did come a change.
In the community of small house came
for sale and, with the help of some people of the finances, he could soon become
the owner. And the saying or proverb of Grandpa always was “what mine eyes can
see, my hands can make”. And there was a lot of truth in this saying. So now his
plan was to become a carpenter. Now in this day and age this takes a lot of
preparation but at that time it seemed not to be so. Today daily papers are full
of advertisements but then it was not so.
You know how he advertised?
He first cleaned everything up and
built a small home for himself and that was good advertisement. And sure enough,
soon things began to pick up. And God blessed the labor of his hands. So that
they have the honor to still live in that house he first built.
After a number of years he gained quite
a little. Fifteen children were entrusted to them. And also the troubles and
pains of loss and sorrows became their lot. Three of their fifteen they had to
see go to America, possible never to see them again. Four were taken away by
death at an early age, and also one who was also mother of a family (that was
Aunt Drika).
Heavy was that cross or burden for
them. Yet they always cast their eye upon Him who led them in everything, which
now lies in the past.
So as they look back on this day – the
day they celebrate their 50th Anniversary and see how richly God has
blessed them and they can say with Jacob of old “With this staff I passed over
Jordan and I have become two armies”. And now he has come to the evening hour of
his life and so also his beloved mate. And now we would say they should <…> from
all their labors. But no. with fresh ardor they feel that their labor is not
ended yet. But we hope that when he shall finally come to rest, that his son
will follow in his footsteps. That through him then the name be kept in high
esteem for many years to come.
May God spare you both to a high old
age, and give you both a more thankful heart for so many benefits and blessings
shown to you.
These two verses were also sung:
So might we upon this very day
Be very happy with you all
How you after 50 years together
Many cares you have had
But now glad upon this day
Glad with heart and soul
And the ending of this day may be
The Praise and Thanksgiving unto God
The Praise and Thanksgiving unto God.
We pray for you upon this very day
Gods best and choicest blessing
That they may accompany you
That they may escort you to the grave
That is our wish upon this day
Yes, with and from us all
That the end of your life here below
Be restful in your God.
Be restful in your God.
This page is last edited on
10-25-05