GENEALOGY OF GERRIT MASSELINK; Generation 8
KLEINE MASSELINK FENNE AND HARMEN 1660-1731
KLEINE MASSELINK GEERD 1693-1743
KLEINE MASSELINK HARMEN 1719-1771
KLEINE MASSELINK HENDRIK 1747-1790
KLEINE MASSELINK FENNE 1771-1843M
KLEINE MASSELINK GERRIT HENDRIK 1792-1870
KLEINE MASSELINK HARMEN 1841-1923 (Masselink in the USA)
MASSELINK GERRIT 1872-1929
"His life, his work, and his teachings were Christ like-that's why I should like to live as Mr. Masselink did" -R.R Reed, "Why I should Like to Live as Gerrit masselink Did"
Mother: Gesje (Geesje) Benierman Kleine Masselink (Masselink in the USA)
Siblings: Eight Masselink children born and raised on the family farm in Oakland, Allegan County, Michigan: Gerrit (1872), Berend (Benjamin) (1873), Fenne (Fanny) (1875), Jan (John) (1877), Hendrick Jan (Henry) (1879), Berend Hendrik (Benjamin Henry) (1881), Jantje (Jenny) (1884) and Hendrikje (Hattie) (1888); All attended the small rural school located next to the family farm for their early education; Their desire and drive for an education is quite remarkable; Two become teachers, one a college president, two dentists and two medical doctors. All from one poor immigrant family.
Spouse: Lavina (Lilian) McArthur Masselink
Five Masselink Children Generation 9: Lawrence (1900, Graduates University of Michigan Law School in 1925, Attorney in Detroit); Lillian Wright (1901 of Detroit); Rollo (1904, M.D./Psychiatrist in Ann Arbor); Benjamin (19??); and Robert (Bobby) (1909 - dies of infantile paralysis in 1919)
KLEINE MASSELINK FENNE AND HARMEN 1660-1731
KLEINE MASSELINK GEERD 1693-1743
KLEINE MASSELINK HARMEN 1719-1771
KLEINE MASSELINK HENDRIK 1747-1790
KLEINE MASSELINK FENNE 1771-1843M
KLEINE MASSELINK GERRIT HENDRIK 1792-1870
KLEINE MASSELINK HARMEN 1841-1923 (Masselink in the USA)
MASSELINK GERRIT 1872-1929
"His life, his work, and his teachings were Christ like-that's why I should like to live as Mr. Masselink did" -R.R Reed, "Why I should Like to Live as Gerrit masselink Did"
Mother: Gesje (Geesje) Benierman Kleine Masselink (Masselink in the USA)
Siblings: Eight Masselink children born and raised on the family farm in Oakland, Allegan County, Michigan: Gerrit (1872), Berend (Benjamin) (1873), Fenne (Fanny) (1875), Jan (John) (1877), Hendrick Jan (Henry) (1879), Berend Hendrik (Benjamin Henry) (1881), Jantje (Jenny) (1884) and Hendrikje (Hattie) (1888); All attended the small rural school located next to the family farm for their early education; Their desire and drive for an education is quite remarkable; Two become teachers, one a college president, two dentists and two medical doctors. All from one poor immigrant family.
Spouse: Lavina (Lilian) McArthur Masselink
Five Masselink Children Generation 9: Lawrence (1900, Graduates University of Michigan Law School in 1925, Attorney in Detroit); Lillian Wright (1901 of Detroit); Rollo (1904, M.D./Psychiatrist in Ann Arbor); Benjamin (19??); and Robert (Bobby) (1909 - dies of infantile paralysis in 1919)
1872 APR 19 - 29 Parents Harmen and Gesje emigrate on the steam/sail ship ‘Scandanavian of Montreal from Liverpool, England on 19 Apr 1872 and arrive in Quebec, Canada on 29 Apr 1872
1872 MAY Parents arrive in Detroit, Michigan; Travel documents state that their religion is alt ref (Old Reformed AKA Christian Reformed in the USA); Respective occupations: Artisan (skilled manual worker) and housewife
1872 MAY 06 Parents arrive at the home of Harm's brother, Hendrik Jan in Oakland, Overisel Township, Allegan County, Michigan; Harm and his 6 month pregnant wife walk the last 7 miles to Jan's home. They stay with brother Jan for about 6 months.
1872 JUL 3 Gerrit born
abt NOV 1872 Father buys 20 acres from brother Jan for $325; On this farm Gerrit lives in the cabin Harm builds of logs hewed from a virgin forest; They struggle to overcome hardships and live there for about a year
Winter 1872-1873+ Father sells farm back to his brother Jan and to Geert Freiman (now Freeman) for $400; Buys a 50 acre farm from Jan Scholten for $875; Farm is entirely covered with primeval forest which intercepts the cold of winter; Father erects a house on this farm and family moves in when about a half of it is finished; No neighbors in sight because of the trees and woods; During these years works as a carpenter a large part of the time and contracted to have 20 acres cleared for $20; After the entire farm is cleared, buys an additional 10 acres from Henry Boerman for $90
1873 Brother Berend (Benjamin) born
1875 Sister Fenne born
1877 Brother Jan (John) born
1877 Nov 14 Gerrit's future wife Lavina MacArthur born in Ontario, Canada
1878 Parents transfer their church membership from the Christian Reformed Church in Uelsen, Grafschaft Bentheim, Germany to the Christian Reformed Church in Overisel, Michigan
1878 Jul Father becomes an American citizen
1879 Brother Hendrick Jan (Henry) born
1881 Brother Berend Hendrik (Benjamin Henry) born (Benjamin #2 or Bennie)
1881 Cousin Gerrit Hendrik (son of Harm's brother Hendrik) emigrates to Michigan
1882 Uncle Hendrik and four of Hendrik's daughters (Gerrit's cousins) emigrate to Michigan
1884 Sister Jantje (Jenny) born
1886 Father builds a barn and later a hog pen and a chicken coop
1886 Gerrit attends high school which is an unusual occurrence for a farm boy of that era; Walks a distance of 5 miles each day
1888 Sister Hendrikje (Hattie) born
1890 Gerrit graduates from high school
1890 Summer Gerrit attends Hope College
1890 Fall Gerrit teaches school and teaches school
1891 Spring Gerrit attends Michigan Agricultural College (MAC, now MSU); Works to pay all his expenses; Receives gold medal in debating; Wins state intercollegiate heavy-weight wrestling championship; Editor of school newspaper
1895 Gerrit graduates from MAC with a B.S. degree with high honors in mathematics and chemistry
1895 Father owns a 60 acre farm in Overisel, Ottawa County, Michigan (Map in file)
1895-1898 Gerrit is Superintendent of Schools of Cass City, Michigan
abt 1897 Gerrit meets his future wife, Lavina MacArthur: Born in Ontario, Canada; Father is a Baptist minister; Graduates high school in Cass City; Graduates from School of Education, Stetson University, Deland, Florida; Brother is Gerrit's college roommate and "through him the two made an acquaintance that culminated in a life companionship"
1897 Dec 24 Gerrit marries Lavina (Lilian) MacArthur; Five Masselink children: Lawrence (1900); Lillian Masselink Wright (1901); Rollo (1904); Benjamin (19??) and Robert (Bobby) (1909)
1898 Gerrit teaches mathematics at Ferris Institute, Big Rapids, Michigan; He is a much loved teacher
1903 Gerrit leaves Ferris to become a professor at his Alma Mater, MAC
1903 Dec 02 Father Harm's children were grown and wanted an education, so the farm is sold to John Weaver for $4,000; Parents then bought a house in Drenthe, Ottawa County, Michigan from R Lanting for $500
1904 Feb 23 Parents move to their house in Drenthe
1904 Gerrit returns to Ferris Institute, Big Rapids, Michigan where he is a Professor of Mathematics, Botany and German; Also teaches a well attended Bible Class of up to 400 Ferris students at the Presbyterian Church and later at Ferris
1910 Candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Michigan (Prohibition); Fighter for prohibition
1912 Gerrit manages administrative functions of Ferris College after founder and President W.N. Ferris is elected Governor of Michigan; Continues to teach classes and works 15 hours a day; Later becomes Vice-President of Ferris
1913 Candidate for Michigan Superintendent of Public Instruction (Progressive)
1915 Candidate for Michigan Superintendent of Public Instruction (Progressive)
1917 AUG 11 Mother Gesje dies
1918 Candidate for Michigan Secretary of State (Democratic)
1919 Gerrit's son Robert ("Little Bobby") dies from infantile paralysis
1923 Father Harm dies in Zeeland, Michigan; Harm and his wife are both buried in the Zeeland City Cemetery, 144 E Lincoln Ave, Zeeland, Michigan; Their greatest reward comes through the realization that their children responded to their teachings
1926 Candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Michigan (Democratic)
1928 Mar Gerrit named 2nd President of Ferris College after college founder, W. N. Ferris dies; Tirelessly solicited money for a building fund to expand Ferris
1929 Apr Gerrit becomes ill for the first time in 39 years; Addresses a local PTA with a temperature of 102 a few days prior to his death; Apr 20 transferred to Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan; Dies there of typhoid fever; Gerrit, Lavina and son Robert are all buried at the Highland View Cemetery, Big Rapids, Michigan
1937 Wife Lavina is a member of the Michigan Democratic State Central Committee
1938-1943 Wife Lavina is a member of the Michigan State University Board of Trustees
1957 Jan 31 Wife Lavina dies in Big Rapids, Michigan and is buried at the Highland View Cemetery, Big Rapids, Michigan
http://www.ferris.edu/HTMLS/news/archive/2013/august/bricks.htm
1872 MAY Parents arrive in Detroit, Michigan; Travel documents state that their religion is alt ref (Old Reformed AKA Christian Reformed in the USA); Respective occupations: Artisan (skilled manual worker) and housewife
1872 MAY 06 Parents arrive at the home of Harm's brother, Hendrik Jan in Oakland, Overisel Township, Allegan County, Michigan; Harm and his 6 month pregnant wife walk the last 7 miles to Jan's home. They stay with brother Jan for about 6 months.
1872 JUL 3 Gerrit born
abt NOV 1872 Father buys 20 acres from brother Jan for $325; On this farm Gerrit lives in the cabin Harm builds of logs hewed from a virgin forest; They struggle to overcome hardships and live there for about a year
Winter 1872-1873+ Father sells farm back to his brother Jan and to Geert Freiman (now Freeman) for $400; Buys a 50 acre farm from Jan Scholten for $875; Farm is entirely covered with primeval forest which intercepts the cold of winter; Father erects a house on this farm and family moves in when about a half of it is finished; No neighbors in sight because of the trees and woods; During these years works as a carpenter a large part of the time and contracted to have 20 acres cleared for $20; After the entire farm is cleared, buys an additional 10 acres from Henry Boerman for $90
1873 Brother Berend (Benjamin) born
1875 Sister Fenne born
1877 Brother Jan (John) born
1877 Nov 14 Gerrit's future wife Lavina MacArthur born in Ontario, Canada
1878 Parents transfer their church membership from the Christian Reformed Church in Uelsen, Grafschaft Bentheim, Germany to the Christian Reformed Church in Overisel, Michigan
1878 Jul Father becomes an American citizen
1879 Brother Hendrick Jan (Henry) born
1881 Brother Berend Hendrik (Benjamin Henry) born (Benjamin #2 or Bennie)
1881 Cousin Gerrit Hendrik (son of Harm's brother Hendrik) emigrates to Michigan
1882 Uncle Hendrik and four of Hendrik's daughters (Gerrit's cousins) emigrate to Michigan
1884 Sister Jantje (Jenny) born
1886 Father builds a barn and later a hog pen and a chicken coop
1886 Gerrit attends high school which is an unusual occurrence for a farm boy of that era; Walks a distance of 5 miles each day
1888 Sister Hendrikje (Hattie) born
1890 Gerrit graduates from high school
1890 Summer Gerrit attends Hope College
1890 Fall Gerrit teaches school and teaches school
1891 Spring Gerrit attends Michigan Agricultural College (MAC, now MSU); Works to pay all his expenses; Receives gold medal in debating; Wins state intercollegiate heavy-weight wrestling championship; Editor of school newspaper
1895 Gerrit graduates from MAC with a B.S. degree with high honors in mathematics and chemistry
1895 Father owns a 60 acre farm in Overisel, Ottawa County, Michigan (Map in file)
1895-1898 Gerrit is Superintendent of Schools of Cass City, Michigan
abt 1897 Gerrit meets his future wife, Lavina MacArthur: Born in Ontario, Canada; Father is a Baptist minister; Graduates high school in Cass City; Graduates from School of Education, Stetson University, Deland, Florida; Brother is Gerrit's college roommate and "through him the two made an acquaintance that culminated in a life companionship"
1897 Dec 24 Gerrit marries Lavina (Lilian) MacArthur; Five Masselink children: Lawrence (1900); Lillian Masselink Wright (1901); Rollo (1904); Benjamin (19??) and Robert (Bobby) (1909)
1898 Gerrit teaches mathematics at Ferris Institute, Big Rapids, Michigan; He is a much loved teacher
1903 Gerrit leaves Ferris to become a professor at his Alma Mater, MAC
1903 Dec 02 Father Harm's children were grown and wanted an education, so the farm is sold to John Weaver for $4,000; Parents then bought a house in Drenthe, Ottawa County, Michigan from R Lanting for $500
1904 Feb 23 Parents move to their house in Drenthe
1904 Gerrit returns to Ferris Institute, Big Rapids, Michigan where he is a Professor of Mathematics, Botany and German; Also teaches a well attended Bible Class of up to 400 Ferris students at the Presbyterian Church and later at Ferris
1910 Candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Michigan (Prohibition); Fighter for prohibition
1912 Gerrit manages administrative functions of Ferris College after founder and President W.N. Ferris is elected Governor of Michigan; Continues to teach classes and works 15 hours a day; Later becomes Vice-President of Ferris
1913 Candidate for Michigan Superintendent of Public Instruction (Progressive)
1915 Candidate for Michigan Superintendent of Public Instruction (Progressive)
1917 AUG 11 Mother Gesje dies
1918 Candidate for Michigan Secretary of State (Democratic)
1919 Gerrit's son Robert ("Little Bobby") dies from infantile paralysis
1923 Father Harm dies in Zeeland, Michigan; Harm and his wife are both buried in the Zeeland City Cemetery, 144 E Lincoln Ave, Zeeland, Michigan; Their greatest reward comes through the realization that their children responded to their teachings
1926 Candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Michigan (Democratic)
1928 Mar Gerrit named 2nd President of Ferris College after college founder, W. N. Ferris dies; Tirelessly solicited money for a building fund to expand Ferris
1929 Apr Gerrit becomes ill for the first time in 39 years; Addresses a local PTA with a temperature of 102 a few days prior to his death; Apr 20 transferred to Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan; Dies there of typhoid fever; Gerrit, Lavina and son Robert are all buried at the Highland View Cemetery, Big Rapids, Michigan
1937 Wife Lavina is a member of the Michigan Democratic State Central Committee
1938-1943 Wife Lavina is a member of the Michigan State University Board of Trustees
1957 Jan 31 Wife Lavina dies in Big Rapids, Michigan and is buried at the Highland View Cemetery, Big Rapids, Michigan
http://www.ferris.edu/HTMLS/news/archive/2013/august/bricks.htm