This document summarizes the history of John Grooteboer and Bernadena Berring, the great grandparents of Keith Somsen. It details that they emigrated from the Netherlands in the 1840s-1849 period and settled first in Alto, Wisconsin, where they married in 1849 and had eight children from 1850-1865. Sometime after 1865, they moved to Carimona, Minnesota, where John died in 1876 and Bernadena in 1889. It provides historical context about Dutch immigration to Wisconsin and Minnesota in the mid-1800s, as well as information about the towns of Alto, Wisconsin and Carimona, Minnesota where the family lived.
1. John Grooteboer (1822 – 1876) &
Bernadena Berring (1824 – 1889)
Keith Somsen’s Great Grandparents on his Father’s Side
NETHERLANDS
The flag of the Netherlands is a horizontal tricolor of red, white, and
blue.
It harks back to Charlemagne's time. Variants of the flag have been in use
since 1572 and in 1937 the flag was officially formalized as the national
flag of the Netherlands and of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is the
oldest tricolor flag.
http://www.familytreemagazine.com/article/dutch-treat
Lay of the land
The Kingdom of the Netherlands (literally, “lowlands”) lies on the North Sea in the northwestern corner of
Europe. The Netherlands is roughly twice the size of New Jersey, and a quarter of it lies below sea level. The
country has 12 provinces, but the two most populous—North and South Holland—include the national capital
(Amsterdam), the governmental seat (The Hague) and the largest port in the world (Rotterdam). Perhaps
because the Holland’s existed as a single province until the 1840s, the Netherlands is still commonly (and
mistakenly) referred to as “Holland.” The remaining provinces are less populated.
Tides of history
The Netherlands has a long history of relationship issues with its neighbors—and not just those next door,
Germany and Belgium. In the 1500s, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Spain Charles V ruled the Dutch
territory. His insistence on all things Catholic prompted William of Orange to lead a Protestant rebellion in
1568, and in 1579, the Netherlands declared its independence.
A golden age followed in the 1600s. The Netherlands dominated on the sea, in financial markets and even in the
art world. Amsterdam quadrupled in population and became a major port. The Dutch East and West India
Companies expanded Dutch influence globally—including to the New Netherlands in North America.
2. Eventually the Dutch spread themselves too thin, and their influence waned abroad and at home. The French
occupied the weakened country in the early 1800s; Napoleon set up a puppet government with his brother at the
helm. When Europe reorganized itself under the Congress of Vienna, the United Kingdom of the Netherlands
was born. The Netherlands regained independence and received the consolation prizes of Belgium and
Luxembourg. (Belgium escaped Dutch rule in 1830; Luxembourg broke off in 1839.)
The Netherlands remained neutral and free during World War I, but wasn’t so lucky during World War II.
During a five-year occupation by Nazi Germany, nearly 280,000 Netherlanders died, and a third of the victims
were Jews. (Anne Frank wrote her famous diary in Amsterdam.) The country was physically and economically
devastated, and the Dutch left by the boatful for many destinations, including the United States.
Immigrant waves
Dutch immigration to the United States waxed and waned. Three high-water marks were the 17th-century
commercial expansion, the immigration free-for-all of the 19th and early 20th centuries, and an influx following
World War II.
In the early to mid-1600s, the Netherlands’ colonization efforts included a region along the Hudson and
Delaware River valleys in what’s now New York state. New Netherland came to include a Dutch outpost on
Manhattan Island known as New Amsterdam.
New Netherland grew slowly, by modern standards. Its settlers were merchants drawn by commercial
opportunities, and the “tired and poor”: religious refugees, the rural poor, orphans and the unemployed.
About 40 years into its history, New Netherland had a population of about 7,000 Dutch (and 3,000 others).
When England conquered the region in 1664, New Netherland became New England; New Amsterdam became
New York. But the Dutch colonists remained—and multiplied. Their descendents followed rivers and newly
blazed trails west through New York and Pennsylvania, and south through New Jersey to Maryland. By the
1790 census, 100,000 Americans claimed Dutch ancestry; 80 percent of them still lived within 50 miles of New
York City.
Dutch immigration picked up again in the 19th century
(1801 – 1900). A quarter-million working-class families,
mostly from rural areas, entered the United States in the
mid-1800s. It began with a trickle of families and
individuals in the 1830s, lured by the promise of prosperity.
By the mid-1840s, the Dutch were arriving en masse—
entire neighborhoods and congregations. They came in
response to a potato crop failure, in religious dissent from
the Dutch Reformed Church (particularly Jews, Roman
Catholics and Secedes), and inspired by the example of
neighboring German group migrations. Many of these Dutch
communities put down their US roots inland, in Holland,
Mich;, Pella, Iowa; and Wisconsin’s Fox River Valley.
3. John Grooteboer (1822 – 1876) &
Bernadena Berring (1824 – 1889)
Keith Somsen’s Great Grandparents on his Father’s Side
The date they emigrated from the Netherlands is not known but probably was between 1845 – 1849. They
were married in Wisconsin during 1849. Their eight children were born at Alto Wisconsin between 1850
and 1865. Sometime after 1865 they moved to area of Carimona, Fillmore, Minnesota where they
remained.
1820’s Netherlands 1840s Alto, Wisc. 1860s-1870S Carimona Minn.
John Grooteboer
Birth 22 May 1822 Holland, Netherlands
Death 11 August 1876 Carimona, Fillmore, Minnesota, United States
Burial: Greenleafton Cemetery, York, Minnesota
Married: 1849 Wisconsin
Bernadena Berring
Birth 4 March 1824 Holland, Netherlands
Death 15 February 1889 Carimona, Fillmore, Minnesota, United States
Burial: Greenleafton Cemetery, York, Minnesota
4. CHILDREN:
1- Henry Grooteboer
Birth 28 Aug 1850 Alto, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
Death 4 June 1923 Bristol, Fillmore, Minnesota
2- Bendina or Nancy Grooteboer
Birth 28 February 1853 Alto, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
Death 7 February 1922 Greenleafton, Fillmore, Minnesota
3- Elizabeth Groteboer
Birth 04 Sep 1853 Alto, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
Death 15 OCT 1946 , Fillmore, Minnesota
4- Antonia or Jane Grooteboer MARRIED Arent Jan (Aaron John) Somsen
Birth 24 Mar 1856 Alto, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
Death 5 Mar 1930 Jamestown, Stutsman, North Dakota
5- George Garret Grooteboer
Birth October 1857 Wisconsin
Death 6 February 1941 Fillmore, Minnesota
6- Johnnes Grooteboer
Birth 4 November 1859 Alto, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
Death 5 November 1881 Greenleafton Cem, York, Fillmore, Minnesota,
7- Della Grooteboer (moved from Wisc. To Minn. with family, married and returned to Wisc.)
Birth 1862 Wisconsin
Death 1930 Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Married 11 October 1895 Preston, Fillmore, Minnesota
8- Benjamin Grooteboer
Birth Jul 1865 Wisconsin
Death 9 July 1936 Bristol, Fillmore, Minnesota
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http://www.wlhn.org/fond_du_lac/towns/alto/alto.htm
ALTO TOWNSHIP - Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin. 1847 The town of Alto was organized on April 6. 1847
http://www.wlhn.org/fond_du_lac/towns/alto/census/alto1847.htm
1847 TERRITORIAL CENSUS - ALTO TOWNSHIP - For the town of Alto in Fond du Lac County,
Wisconsin - 193 males and 145 females were identified, for a total population of 338. - 1850 The first school
district was organized March 18, 1850. According to the 1880 History:
http://www.wlhn.org/fond_du_lac/towns/alto/census/1850_alto/alto_1850_census.htm
THE 1850 FEDERAL CENSUS: TOWN OF ALTO, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin
The Alto windmill prior to the turn of the century. It served as Zoellner's
grist mill.
http://www.wlhn.org/fond_du_lac/towns/alto/alto_dutchsettlers.htm
Population Summary
By 1850, only three years after it was organized, Alto was already heavily
settled. The largest contingent in the township--representing 35 percent of the
town's population of 613, exclusive of the 51 children born in Wisconsin--
were born in New York. Immigrants from Holland, the Dutch, were the
next largest group, comprising 25% (138) of the total. Scots ranked third
with 7%. Canadians and English each accounted for 2%. The average age was
22.5. A total of 115 children had attended school within the previous 12
months
5. ALTO FIRST REFORMED CHURCH
The first church organized in the town of Alto was the First Reformed, or Ebenezer church. In 1856 land was
bought in section 23 for a church ediface, on which the building was erected. It was organized as a Reformed
church, with forty-seven members. The first trustees were: N. Mensink, F. Beeuwkos, M. Duven, G. Duitman,
G. Stilsel, C. Landaal, L. Sligster and J. W. Kastein. This church, as will be noticed from the names of the
members, was composed mostly of Hollanders. They first began settlements in the town in the later part of
1845. These people first held religious services in private houses but in 1848 erected a log church, 16x26 feet,
which also served as a schoolhouse. A second Reformed church was subsequently built, mainly at the expense
of Henry Bruins; also a Methodist, Episcopal and Congregational church were built.
A picture of our first church, drawn by William Gysbers
from the description given to him by his Uncle Garret
Gysbers, who at one time lived in the parsonage with his
mother." Alto Reformed Church, Alto, Wisconsin,
1855-1955
----------------------------
-----------------------
"Old church Building and School. At present it is
doing service as a town hall. Erected in 1856, and
served as edifice until 1898." Alto Reformed Church,
Alto, Wisconsin, 1855-1955
Town of Alto, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin
http://www.wlhn.org/fond_du_lac/towns/alto/census/alto1855_census.htm
1855 STATE CENSUS: ALTO TOWNSHIP, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin
The 1855 Wisconsin state census recorded heads of household, number of white males, number of white
females, number of "colored" males, number of "colored" females and the total of foreign born individuals in
the household on June 1, 1855.
The census taker was Rufus M. Harwood, Town Clerk, who reported totals of 525 white males, 492 white
females, 1 deaf and dumb, and 289 foreign born, for a total census of 1017 individuals. Micro-film of the
original records is available at the Historical Society library.
1855 STATE CENSUS: ALTO TOWNSHIP, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin
HEADS OF
FAMILIES
WHITE COLORED
DEAF & DUMB BLIND INSANE
FOREIGN
BIRTHM F M F
Grooteboer, John 2 3 2
6. Occupationally, the township listed 156 farmers, 27 laborers, 2 carpenters, 1 chair maker, 1 shoe maker, 1 tailor,
1 tavern keeper, and 1 teamster.
By 1859 it was claimed that 800 people of Dutch heritage were living in the Alto area. This may be slightly
exaggerated, but according to the 1880 census Alto Township had 1430 residents, of which about three-
fourths were Dutch.
1861 Following the fall of Ft. Sumpter in April, men of the town of Alto began to enlist in the army.
http://www.wlhn.org/fond_du_lac/towns/alto/maps/alto_1862plat.pdf
~ 1870’s Many of the names that were once familiar in those earlier years are no longer, because as the
west opened up many families moved to Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Kansas, South Dakota, and Wash.
7. 1880 Alto has two stores, but neither a village, nor a saloon, nor
a post office;
There are now seven churches in Alto, and all, save one, are
well sustained. The First Reformed or "Ebenezer" Church was
the first organized. The others are the Second Reformed or
"Ebenezer" Church, which was recently built, mainly at the
expense of Henry Bruins; the Dutch Presbyterian and the Dutch
Congregational, the German Methodist and the Methodist
Episcopal Churches, and one Congregational Church, in which
no regular meetings are held, the society being much reduced by
deaths and removals.
Alto now has nine schools, of which three are in union districts.
http://www.wlhn.org/james_pond/pond_boyhood.htm
"A Pioneer Boyhood. Recollections of the West in the Forties."
James Burton Pond, The Century Magazine, Vol. LVIII, No. 6, 1899.
His early life in Lake County, Illinois and Alto Township, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, in the
1840's and 1850's.
========================================================================
In 1848 when the Minnesota Territory was formed there were four major "white" settlements: Saint Paul, Saint
Anthony (part of modern Minneapolis), Stillwater, and Pembina (now part of North Dakota).
1862 – Homestead Act grants 160 acres of federal land to those who meet specific criteria
Through the Homestead Act of 1862 there was a migration toward the Great Plains as people wanted land to
farm and call their own. Those farmers who could prove that they had been residing upon or farming their land
for five consecutive years were granted the claim to their land. Farmers could not get more than 160 acres or
work more than one claim in a lifetime.
Sometime after 1865 the John Grooteboer family moved from Wisconsin to Carimona,
Fillmore, Minnesota. Fillmore County, Minnesota.
8. View of Carimona, Minnesota
Panoramic view of Carimona, Minnesota looking westward
Fillmore County History
Fillmore County, located on the southern border of Minnesota, is the second county west of the
Mississippi River. Fillmore County is located on 865 square miles--that's 553,082 acres. At its beginning,
Fillmore County included all of Houston, most of Winona and Wabasha, some of Olmsted, and a little of Dodge
and Mower counties. The present boundaries were established in 1855. Fillmore County was established March
5, 1853 and was named in honor of President Millard Fillmore who was President of the United States 1850 to
1853. At the time of its statehood, Fillmore was the most populous county in Minnesota, a distinction held until
1870. Its population peak occurred in 1895 at 28,599 people.
Railroads played an integral role in the development of Fillmore County. There were three major railroads in
Fillmore County. The last railroad left in the late 1970's. Railroads could make or break a town; many small
towns became flourishing cities due to the business brought in by the railroads.
In its beginning, Fillmore County was a diversified business area. Because of its abundant water resources,
sawmills, gristmills, feed mills, and woolen mills flourished. Agriculture was as important then, as it is now.
According to a survey of 1,913 farms from the Census of Agriculture of 1978, approximately 483,555 acres of
land were being used for farming. Due to improved farming methods, small farms have been combined into
larger units. There are more acres being farmed now, but by fewer farmers. The chief crops raised are corn,
soybeans, and alfalfa; the chief livestock--dairy and beef cattle, poultry, and hogs.
10. 2013 Google Earth view of Carimona, Fillmore Co., Minnesota
http://www.dot.state.mn.us/culturalresources/pdf_files/crunit/devperiods.pdf
Farms in Minnesota 1820 - 1960
CENSUS DATA: John Grooteboer Family
The census taker was Rufus M. Harwood, Town Clerk, who reported totals of 525 white males, 492 white
females, 1 deaf and dumb, and 289 foreign born, for a total census of 1017 individuals. Micro-film of the
original records is available at the Historical Society library.
11. 1855 STATE CENSUS: ALTO TOWNSHIP, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin
HEADS OF
FAMILIES
WHITE COLORED
DEAF & DUMB BLIND INSANE
FOREIGN
BIRTHM F M F
Grooteboer, John 2 3 2
Wisconsin, State Census, 1855
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MMML-WN2
John Grooteboer household
name: John Grooteboer residence: Alto, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
number of white males: 2 number of white females: 3 , foreign born: 2
line number: 22 film number: 1032687 digital folder number: 4245038 image number: 00215
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"United States Census, 1860"
https://familysearch.org/search/records/index#count=20&query=%2Bsurname%3AGrotoboy~%20%2Bresidenc
e_place%3A%22Fond%20Du%20Lac%2C%20Wisconsin%22~%20%2Bresidence_year%3A1855-
1865~&collection_id=1473181
John Grotoboy household - Grooteboer
name: John Grotoboy residence: , Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin ward: Town Of Alto
age: 36 years estimated birth year: 1824 birthplace: Holland
gender: Male
page: 55 family number: 422 film number: 805407 dgs number: 4298902 image number: 00176 nara number: M653
name: Bendina Grotoboy residence:, Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin ward: Town Of Alto
age: 32 years estimated birth year: 1828 birthplace: Holland gender: Female
name: Henry Grotoboy residence: , Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin ward: Town Of Alto
age: 9 years estimated birth year: 1851 birthplace: Wisconsin gender: Male
name: Bendina Grotoboy residence: , Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin ward: Town Of Alto
age: 6 years estimated birth year: 1854 birthplace: Wisconsin gender: Female
name: Elizabeth Grotoboy residence: , Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin ward: Town Of Alto
age: 7 years estimated birth year: 1853 birthplace: Wisconsin gender: Female
name: Anthony Grotoboy residence: , Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin ward: Town Of Alto
age: 4 years estimated birth year: 1856 birthplace: Wisconsin gender: Male
name: Johannes Grotoboy residence: , Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin ward: Town Of Alto
age: 0 years estimated birth year: 1860 birthplace: Wisconsin gender: Female
name: Thomas Grotoboy residence: , Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin ward: Town Of Alto ????
age: 40 years estimated birth year: 1820 birthplace: Holland gender: Male
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12. https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MKND-N5X
"Minnesota, State Census, 1875"
Thomas Grooteboer household residence: Carimona, Fillmore, Minnesota ????
age:55 estimated birth year: 1820
father's birthplace: Holland mother's birthplace: Holland
birthplace: Holland race: White gender:Male
name: Elizabeth Grooteboer residence: Carimona, Fillmore, Minnesota
age: 55 estimated birth year: 1820
father's birthplace: Holland mother's birthplace: Holland
birthplace: Holland race: White gender: Female
Household Gender Birthplace
Thomas Grooteboer M Holland
Elizabeth Grooteboer F Holland
Hattie Wisling F Holland
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MQX8-DJ1
"Minnesota, State Census, 1885"
Henry Grooteboer household SON
name: Henry Grooteboer residence: Carimona, Fillmore, Minnesota
age: 34 years estimated birth year: 1851 birthplace: Wisconsin
race: White gender: Male
family number: 1 volume: Fillmore page number: 1 film number: 000565738
Household Gender Age Birthplace
Henry Grooteboer M 34y Wisconsin
Anna Grooteboer F 36y Holland
Anna Grooteboer F 8y Minnesota
family number: 1 volume: Fillmore page number: 1 film number: 000565738
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https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MQ85-SZW
Minnesota, State Census, 1895
George Grootboer household SON
name: George Grootboer residence: Bristol township, Fillmore, Minnesota
age: 37y estimated birth year:1858 place of birth: Wisconsin
race (original): W gender:Male
Household Gender Age Birthplace
George Grootboer M 37y Wisconsin
Minnie Grootboer F 35y Wisconsin
Jena Grootboer F 15y Minnesota
John Grootboer M 11y Minnesota
Eva Grootboer F 8y Minnesota
Anne Grootboer F 4y Minnesota
Owen Jones M 28y Minnesota
