Deerkje (Dirkje in Dutch) Verwolf was born in Ameide, Netherlands on February 2, 1853 to Gijsbert van Es and Marigje Verhoef. At the age of 22, she married John Verwolf and made their home in Ameide. Born to them in quick succession were George – 1876, Guy – 1877, and Leonard – 1879.
Around 1880, her husband, John Verwolf, went back to sea and after two years, he jumped ship in "Amerika" and settled in the Dutch Reformed community of Pella, Iowa, hoping his wife and family would join him, but that was not to be. Sometime in 1889, after the death of Deerkje's father, Gijsbert van Es, John returned to Holland and was re-united with his family after a ten year absence. Around 1890, John returned to America, joined by his wife, Deerkje and their three sons, and settled in Harrison, South Dakota where John had bought a farm. It was here that four more children were born; Maggie – 1891, Ira – 1892, Dick – 1894, and Lena – 1895.
In 1898, taking two teams with two open wagons, a pony and a dog, some guns and a revolver, and a little chattel, John and two sons, Guy and Len traveled over trails and primitive roads, with few bridges, for a thousand miles, often through hostile Indian territory, to a state and a valley that had prospects for better farming. Deerkje, the oldest son, George, and the four small children followed via railway in a box car containing the household furnishings, some cows, chickens, farming tools and implements. They settled in the Gallatin Valley on Camp Creek, eight miles south of Manhattan, Montana, in the northwest edge of the small, new Dutch community of 10 to 12 families, which later, at Deerkje's suggestion, was named Amsterdam.
Soon after her youngest son, John Jr., was born in October of 1899, Mrs. Verwolf became ill with tuberculosis, and her daughter Maggie, age 11, assumed most of the responsibilities for the care of the younger children, and especially the baby, Johnny.
Mrs. Verwolf passed away on November 16, 1902, twelve years after leaving her native Holland, and four years after the family's arrival in Montana, at the age of 49.
Submitted by Joanne Verwolf from the writings of John's son, William (Bill) Verwolf.
Printed in The Avant Courier, Friday, November 21, 1902: Mrs. John Verwolf died the night of the 16th. She had been sick with lingering consumption for three years.
Around 1880, her husband, John Verwolf, went back to sea and after two years, he jumped ship in "Amerika" and settled in the Dutch Reformed community of Pella, Iowa, hoping his wife and family would join him, but that was not to be. Sometime in 1889, after the death of Deerkje's father, Gijsbert van Es, John returned to Holland and was re-united with his family after a ten year absence. Around 1890, John returned to America, joined by his wife, Deerkje and their three sons, and settled in Harrison, South Dakota where John had bought a farm. It was here that four more children were born; Maggie – 1891, Ira – 1892, Dick – 1894, and Lena – 1895.
In 1898, taking two teams with two open wagons, a pony and a dog, some guns and a revolver, and a little chattel, John and two sons, Guy and Len traveled over trails and primitive roads, with few bridges, for a thousand miles, often through hostile Indian territory, to a state and a valley that had prospects for better farming. Deerkje, the oldest son, George, and the four small children followed via railway in a box car containing the household furnishings, some cows, chickens, farming tools and implements. They settled in the Gallatin Valley on Camp Creek, eight miles south of Manhattan, Montana, in the northwest edge of the small, new Dutch community of 10 to 12 families, which later, at Deerkje's suggestion, was named Amsterdam.
Soon after her youngest son, John Jr., was born in October of 1899, Mrs. Verwolf became ill with tuberculosis, and her daughter Maggie, age 11, assumed most of the responsibilities for the care of the younger children, and especially the baby, Johnny.
Mrs. Verwolf passed away on November 16, 1902, twelve years after leaving her native Holland, and four years after the family's arrival in Montana, at the age of 49.
Submitted by Joanne Verwolf from the writings of John's son, William (Bill) Verwolf.
Printed in The Avant Courier, Friday, November 21, 1902: Mrs. John Verwolf died the night of the 16th. She had been sick with lingering consumption for three years.
Deerkje (Dirkje in Dutch) Verwolf was born in Ameide, Netherlands on February 2, 1853 to Gijsbert van Es and Marigje Verhoef. At the age of 22, she married John Verwolf and made their home in Ameide. Born to them in quick succession were George – 1876, Guy – 1877, and Leonard – 1879.
Around 1880, her husband, John Verwolf, went back to sea and after two years, he jumped ship in "Amerika" and settled in the Dutch Reformed community of Pella, Iowa, hoping his wife and family would join him, but that was not to be. Sometime in 1889, after the death of Deerkje's father, Gijsbert van Es, John returned to Holland and was re-united with his family after a ten year absence. Around 1890, John returned to America, joined by his wife, Deerkje and their three sons, and settled in Harrison, South Dakota where John had bought a farm. It was here that four more children were born; Maggie – 1891, Ira – 1892, Dick – 1894, and Lena – 1895.
In 1898, taking two teams with two open wagons, a pony and a dog, some guns and a revolver, and a little chattel, John and two sons, Guy and Len traveled over trails and primitive roads, with few bridges, for a thousand miles, often through hostile Indian territory, to a state and a valley that had prospects for better farming. Deerkje, the oldest son, George, and the four small children followed via railway in a box car containing the household furnishings, some cows, chickens, farming tools and implements. They settled in the Gallatin Valley on Camp Creek, eight miles south of Manhattan, Montana, in the northwest edge of the small, new Dutch community of 10 to 12 families, which later, at Deerkje's suggestion, was named Amsterdam.
Soon after her youngest son, John Jr., was born in October of 1899, Mrs. Verwolf became ill with tuberculosis, and her daughter Maggie, age 11, assumed most of the responsibilities for the care of the younger children, and especially the baby, Johnny.
Mrs. Verwolf passed away on November 16, 1902, twelve years after leaving her native Holland, and four years after the family's arrival in Montana, at the age of 49.
Submitted by Joanne Verwolf from the writings of John's son, William (Bill) Verwolf.
Printed in The Avant Courier, Friday, November 21, 1902: Mrs. John Verwolf died the night of the 16th. She had been sick with lingering consumption for three years.
Around 1880, her husband, John Verwolf, went back to sea and after two years, he jumped ship in "Amerika" and settled in the Dutch Reformed community of Pella, Iowa, hoping his wife and family would join him, but that was not to be. Sometime in 1889, after the death of Deerkje's father, Gijsbert van Es, John returned to Holland and was re-united with his family after a ten year absence. Around 1890, John returned to America, joined by his wife, Deerkje and their three sons, and settled in Harrison, South Dakota where John had bought a farm. It was here that four more children were born; Maggie – 1891, Ira – 1892, Dick – 1894, and Lena – 1895.
In 1898, taking two teams with two open wagons, a pony and a dog, some guns and a revolver, and a little chattel, John and two sons, Guy and Len traveled over trails and primitive roads, with few bridges, for a thousand miles, often through hostile Indian territory, to a state and a valley that had prospects for better farming. Deerkje, the oldest son, George, and the four small children followed via railway in a box car containing the household furnishings, some cows, chickens, farming tools and implements. They settled in the Gallatin Valley on Camp Creek, eight miles south of Manhattan, Montana, in the northwest edge of the small, new Dutch community of 10 to 12 families, which later, at Deerkje's suggestion, was named Amsterdam.
Soon after her youngest son, John Jr., was born in October of 1899, Mrs. Verwolf became ill with tuberculosis, and her daughter Maggie, age 11, assumed most of the responsibilities for the care of the younger children, and especially the baby, Johnny.
Mrs. Verwolf passed away on November 16, 1902, twelve years after leaving her native Holland, and four years after the family's arrival in Montana, at the age of 49.
Submitted by Joanne Verwolf from the writings of John's son, William (Bill) Verwolf.
Printed in The Avant Courier, Friday, November 21, 1902: Mrs. John Verwolf died the night of the 16th. She had been sick with lingering consumption for three years.
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