Schuiteman,Jan 1815 and Eibertje Ponsteen 1827 Family

SCHUITEMAN, PONSTEEN, PONSTEIN, DENHERDER

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 17:23:10

Schuiteman, Jan 1815 and Eibertje Ponsteen 1827 Family

This story was taken from the Sioux Center Centennial Book of 1991 page 522 and was submitted to the book by Henrietta Schuiteman. Research notes were added by the transcriber of this BIOS at the end of the BIOS.

Jan and Eigbertje (Ponstein) Schuiteman left Nunspeet, Netherlands, in 1880 to come to America, with their two sons; Aart Schuiteman born January 4, 1863 and Gerrit Schuiteman born September 26, 1866.

The fact that their son Aart was about to become eighteen years of age which automatically meant that he would have to join the army helped the family decide to flee America. They left behind what little possessions they had, taking only the bare necessities. These were packed into four trunks which were handmade chests of rough lumber and the lids were nailed in place. They did manage to take the family clock, which was used by their son Gerrit Schuiteman’s family for many years and is still in use today.

The address of their future home in America was painted on the lid of the trunks of Jan and Eigbertje Schuiteman with black paint and it read Jan Schuiteman, Noordt America, Orange City, Sioux county Iowa, since Sioux Center did not yet exist as a destination town at the time.

When they first arrived the family lived in an old abandoned house, located about a mile and half south of present day Sioux Center, which belonged to the Vande Brakes, some friends of the family , who had come to America some time before and had been urging the Schuitemans to come here, too.

The Schuitemans had no furniture of any kind, but these friend asked others to help this poor family and soon they had the bare necessities. The Rev. James De Pree, the first pastor of the First Reformed Church, heard about the needs of the Schuitemans and offered them a bed. Which was old and not in use by them. This bed turned out to be a very good piece of furniture and remained with the family and still is in use today.

The two boys, Aat and Gerrit, had to work out as farm hands. Gerrit told of some interesting experiences when he was working as a hired man for a family Braaksma (Name changed) Mr. Braaksma who will be referred to as Papa, was a kind man, but did not like to work. He also had a hard time getting along with his bottle! His wife on the other hand was a very hard worker, was very possessive and very protective of her husband. They were poor, and Gerrit, the hired man’s breakfast was always the same bread spread with cold lard, and a boiled egg. However, Mr. Braaksma, Papa would stay in bed in the morning until Gerrit had all the chores done, and the horse hitched to whatever piece of equipment was to be used. Before coming out to work, Papa would be serviced a very special breakfast, which usually consisted of hot pancakes, plenty of butter, syrup, bacon and several fried eggs. Oh, how good this would smell in those early fall mornings, when Gerrit was working outside, and with the kitchen window open, he could hardly resist going in to the house for breakfast like that. One morning, it got the best of him, and timing it just right he went in for a drink. Papa was sitting at the table, with a stack of hot cakes before him, with all the rest, and the mother busy at the stove, making more goodies. Gerrit took his drink took a good look at the table, and then said to her “you better feed the old rooster good’, and left the house slamming the door behind him.

At noon, the mother, Papa’s wife, would bring their noon meal to the field, since the horses had to rest during this time. The noon meal would consist of more bread spread with cold lard, and she would bring four boiled eggs. She would hover over the men and would always say, three eggs for Papa, and one for Gerrit, fearing that if she did not say this, her husband would be sure to divide them so that each would have two eggs.

Papa and Mama Braaksma would also sometimes get into an argument. One day this happened and Papa disappeared! She was so upset, and ran all over the farm place looking into each barn and shed, but just couldn’t find him. She was very embarrassed, Gerrit was in the field, so not being able to find Papa, she ran to the field and asked Gerrit to come and help her hunt. But they could not find Papa. So as a last resort, Gerrit was sent to the neighbors to see if he might possibly be there. Enroute to the neighbors, on horseback, he had to cross a wooden bridge, since there was a creek on the farm place. Gerrit never gave it a thought to look under the bridge, but that was just where Papa was hiding ! So Gerrit went on to the neighbors, but they had not seen Papa. Gerrit went back home with the bad news. By this time, it was getting late, and it was almost dark, and almost supper time. When they had just about given up, there was Papa. The next morning Papa told Gerrit that he had sure laughed when he heard them hollering for him, and also when he heard the horse go across the bridge. He also said he would have stayed there much longer, but he was getting hungry.

After a few years, Gerrit’s brother, Aart Schuitmen, got married and soon after that, the mother died, leaving her husband and son Gerrit on the farm alone. The need for a housekeeper caused Hattie Groeneveld to come and work for them. After a while, Gerrit and Hattie were married and became the parents of five children:
1.John born Oct 26, 1892
2.Annie (Mrs. William Hulstein) born Oct 3, 1895;
3.Annie (Mrs. Sam P. Schut) born August 21, 1898;
4.Henrietta born Sep 24, 1907
5.Priscilla (Mrs. Ed J. Vermeer) born Sep 11, 1913.

Gerrit’s brother Aart married Willemina Rensink, March 6, 1890 and they farmed near Sioux Center. They were the parents of seven Children:
1.Eigbertje (Mrs. Henry Kruizenga) born Feb 15, 1891
2.Hendrik Willem born Sep 27, 1893;
3.Harmina (Mrs. Joe Navis) born Aug 31, 1895;
4.Jan born Nov 29, 1898;
5.Grada (Mrs. Herman Ennema) born Dec 15, 1898;
6.Willemina (Mrs Ed P. Schut) born June 11, 1901 and Aart born Jan 22, 1904.

Jan and Eigbertje Schuiteman were members of the Frist Reformed Church of Sioux Center.

See separate BIOS stories for both Aart and Gerrit’s families.

BIRTH of Jan Schuiteman to Aart Hendriksen Schuiteman and Jentje Gerrit Schuiteman on 19 Jan 1815 at Nunspeet, Gelderland, Netherlands

BIRTH of Eibertje Ponsteen born to Gerrit Ponsteen a farmer age 36 and Annetje Den Herder age 31 born 6 Nov 1827 at Oosteinde Nunspeet, Gelderland, Netherland

MARRIAGE of Jan Schuiteman age 37 to Eibertje Ponsteen age 34. His parents were Aart Hendriksen Schuiteman and Jentje Gerrets Schuiteman. Her parents were Gerrit Posteen and Annetje den Herder. They were married 31 Jan 1862 at Ermelo, Gelderland, Netherlands.
OBITUARY of Eibertje Pontein Mrs. Jan Schuitmen)
Schuiteman, Eibertje nee’ Ponstein born 1828 died 1891 listed on Schuiteman Stone buried in Memory Gardens Sioux Center IA. No obit was found, earliest Sioux Center papers are for 1892.

Marriage record from the Netherlands lists Eibeertje Ponsteen born 1828 married 31 Jan 1862 at Ermelo, Gelderland Netherlands. Her husband was Jan Schuiteman, her parents were Gerrit Ponsteen and Annetje den Herder.
See the obit of her husband Jan Schuiteman 1815-1900 and son Gerrit Schuitman 1866-1946 for more family details.
Netherlands birth records list her birth date as Nov 6, 1827 at Ermelo/Nunspeet, Gelderland Netherlands. Parents Gerrit Ponsteen and Annetje De Herder.

OBITUARY of Jan Schuiteman
Schuiteman, Jan born 1815 died 1900 buried in Memory Gardens cemetery Sioux Center IA.
See the obit of Eibertje Ponstein Mrs. Jan Schuiteman 1828-1891 for family details.
Find a Grave lists Jan Schuiteman born 19 Jan 1815 Ermelo, Nunspeet Gelderland Netherlands died 1900 Sioux Center, IA, buried there, wife Eibertje, children: Aart and Gerrit Schuiteman.
The Sioux Center paper noted in March 25, 1900 that he was sick .
The death records of Sioux County indicate that John Schuiteman died March 6/28?, 1900
Sioux Center Paper of April 4, 1900
De Oude heer Schuiteman overleed verleden week Woenday de begrafenis had donderdag plaats.
Translated, the elderly gentleman Schuiteman died last Wednesday the funeral was Thursday at this place (Sioux Center)
DeVolksvriend of April 4, 1900
Te Sioux Center is gestorven de oude heer Schuiteman. Would indicate he died March 28, 1900.
Translated – At Sioux Center the old man Schuiteman has died.

BIRTH of Aart Schuiteman born to Jan Schuiteman 47 and Eibertje Ponsteen 36 born 4 Jan 1863 at Ermelo, Gelderland, Netherlands

OBITUARY of Aart Schuitman
AART SCHUITEMAN, SR.
Mr. Schuiteman was born in the Netherlands in 1862 and came to America with his parents when a young lad of 16 years. The family settled in Sioux County on a farm east of town. Mr. Schuiteman applied himself as a young man and in 1890 he was united in marriage to Miss Whilemina Rensink by the Rev. James De Pree.
Mr. and Mrs. Schuiteman were to have celebrated their 44th anniversary of happy married life next summer. During that time they lived on a farm east of town with the exception of nine years. In 1925 they retired and moved to Sioux Center.
Besides his widow, six children and a brother, Gerrit, survive Mr. Schuiteman. The children are Mrs. Henry Kruizenga, Will Schuiteman, John A. Schuiteman, Mrs. Herman Ennema, Mrs. Edward Schut and Art Schuiteman. One of his daughters, Mrs. [illegible] Navis, preceded Mr. Schuiteman in death, passing away last year.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, 1:00 o'clock at the home and 1:30 at the First Ref. Church, the Rev. L. A. Brunsting officiating. Interment was in the local cemetery.
Source: Sioux Center News, February 1, 1934.

BIRTH of Gerrit Schuiteman to Jan Schuiteman 51 and Eibertje Ponsteen 42 on 30 Sep 1866 at Ermelo, Gelderland Netherlands.

OBITUARY of Gerrit Schuitman
Source: Sioux County Index (1-31-1946)
Born: September 30, 1866
Died: January 14, 1946
His birth certificate tells us he was born 30 September 1866! The stone on his grave and the obituary says 26 September 1865!
Gerrit Schuiteman is Laid To Rest Thursday, January 17
Mr. Gerrit Schuiteman of Sioux Center passed away at the Doornink hospital at Orange City early Monday morning, January 14, 1946. He had reached the age of 80 years.
Mr. Schuiteman became ill with a serious skin disease several months ago and was taken to the hospital on the evening of December 29, the same day that Mr. and Mrs. Schuiteman remembered their 54th wedding anniversary. Since that time he was in a very critical condition and suffered much.
He was born on September 26, 1865 at Nunspeet, Gelderland, Netherlands and at the age of 15 years he came to Sioux County with his parents, Jan and Eibertje (Ponstein) Schuiteman and an only brother and he made his home in the Sioux Center vicinity since that time.
On December 29, 1891 he was united in marriage to Hattie Groenveldt, and five children were born to them, namely, John, Anna (Mrs. William G. Hulstein); Allie (Mrs. Sam P. Schut); Henrietta and Priscilla (Mrs. Edwin J. Vermeer).
He is now survived by his widow and the children and one great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by an only brother, Art Schuiteman, who passed away 12 years ago at the age of 72 years.
Mr. and Mrs. Schuiteman and family farmed near Sioux Center until 25 years ago at which time they retired and moved into town at their present location.
Funeral services were held on Thursday afternoon , January 17, 1946 at the home and at the First Reformed Church with Reverend L.A. Brunsting officiating. The body was laid to rest in the family plot of the local cemetery, and acting as pallbearers were Henry Vermeer, Neal Rozeboom, Peter Schouten, Henry Kamerman, John Mieras and Peter Moerman.
At the close at the afternoon's services a Dutch Psalm verse: Psalm 89, verse 1, was sung by the congregation upon request of the family. This verse was sung at the close of the last services held for his father, his mother and his only brother.

Compiler was unable to find a picture of Jan and Eibertje Ponsteen Schuiteman.