Harm and his wife Dena sailed for America from the Port of Rotterdam, Holland aboard the ship Veendam. On March 17, 1892, they entered this country through the port of New York at the newly opened Ellis Island Immigration Station. The passenger list tells us that Harm and Dena had five children with them: Aeilt "Allen", Frank, Gesina "Cena", Simon "Sam", and Hinderke "Hannah". The records also tell us that they came to America to start a new life with but one piece of luggage.
Life was very hard for them in Germany. They were "tageloners" or day laborers. There was little to eat and the work was always hard. Germany had a very distinct social and economic class system. To raise yourself to a better standard of living was nearly impossible.
Early immigration from Ostfriesland was to Illinois. One of the largest settlements was at German Valley, Stephenson County. The letters to the German honeland told of bountiful land and if a man worked hard he could own his own land and raise a family in this new world. The Ostfriesens stayed together in America as they had lived together in the Old Country. As more peopple arrived, the settlers moved on to more available lands in Shiloh and German townships in Grundy County and Aetna and Clay townships in Hardin County, Iowa. The migration spread to Lyon County, Iowa in the northwestern part of the state and Winnebago and northern Kossuth counties. The Ostfriesens spilled over into the southeastern part of South Dakota and southwestern Minnesota. Thea area around Buffalo Center was settled late because the land was low and marshy and less desirable.
Harm and Dena settled for a short time near Cleves, in Hardin County. Her parents had arrived there just two years before in 1890. In May 1892 their sixth child, Helmer "Elmer" was born. By 1895 they were farming in German Township, Kossuth County. In 1900 Harm and Dena were farming in Grant Township, Winnebago County. By this time the family had grown with the births of four more children: Ted, Albert, Herman and Florence. The last child, John, was born in July of 1903 but died as an infant. Dena's father, Eielt "Al" Abbas, was also making his home with them. His wife Frauke had died in 1897.
Life was very hard for them in Germany. They were "tageloners" or day laborers. There was little to eat and the work was always hard. Germany had a very distinct social and economic class system. To raise yourself to a better standard of living was nearly impossible.
Early immigration from Ostfriesland was to Illinois. One of the largest settlements was at German Valley, Stephenson County. The letters to the German honeland told of bountiful land and if a man worked hard he could own his own land and raise a family in this new world. The Ostfriesens stayed together in America as they had lived together in the Old Country. As more peopple arrived, the settlers moved on to more available lands in Shiloh and German townships in Grundy County and Aetna and Clay townships in Hardin County, Iowa. The migration spread to Lyon County, Iowa in the northwestern part of the state and Winnebago and northern Kossuth counties. The Ostfriesens spilled over into the southeastern part of South Dakota and southwestern Minnesota. Thea area around Buffalo Center was settled late because the land was low and marshy and less desirable.
Harm and Dena settled for a short time near Cleves, in Hardin County. Her parents had arrived there just two years before in 1890. In May 1892 their sixth child, Helmer "Elmer" was born. By 1895 they were farming in German Township, Kossuth County. In 1900 Harm and Dena were farming in Grant Township, Winnebago County. By this time the family had grown with the births of four more children: Ted, Albert, Herman and Florence. The last child, John, was born in July of 1903 but died as an infant. Dena's father, Eielt "Al" Abbas, was also making his home with them. His wife Frauke had died in 1897.
Harm and his wife Dena sailed for America from the Port of Rotterdam, Holland aboard the ship Veendam. On March 17, 1892, they entered this country through the port of New York at the newly opened Ellis Island Immigration Station. The passenger list tells us that Harm and Dena had five children with them: Aeilt "Allen", Frank, Gesina "Cena", Simon "Sam", and Hinderke "Hannah". The records also tell us that they came to America to start a new life with but one piece of luggage.
Life was very hard for them in Germany. They were "tageloners" or day laborers. There was little to eat and the work was always hard. Germany had a very distinct social and economic class system. To raise yourself to a better standard of living was nearly impossible.
Early immigration from Ostfriesland was to Illinois. One of the largest settlements was at German Valley, Stephenson County. The letters to the German honeland told of bountiful land and if a man worked hard he could own his own land and raise a family in this new world. The Ostfriesens stayed together in America as they had lived together in the Old Country. As more peopple arrived, the settlers moved on to more available lands in Shiloh and German townships in Grundy County and Aetna and Clay townships in Hardin County, Iowa. The migration spread to Lyon County, Iowa in the northwestern part of the state and Winnebago and northern Kossuth counties. The Ostfriesens spilled over into the southeastern part of South Dakota and southwestern Minnesota. Thea area around Buffalo Center was settled late because the land was low and marshy and less desirable.
Harm and Dena settled for a short time near Cleves, in Hardin County. Her parents had arrived there just two years before in 1890. In May 1892 their sixth child, Helmer "Elmer" was born. By 1895 they were farming in German Township, Kossuth County. In 1900 Harm and Dena were farming in Grant Township, Winnebago County. By this time the family had grown with the births of four more children: Ted, Albert, Herman and Florence. The last child, John, was born in July of 1903 but died as an infant. Dena's father, Eielt "Al" Abbas, was also making his home with them. His wife Frauke had died in 1897.
Life was very hard for them in Germany. They were "tageloners" or day laborers. There was little to eat and the work was always hard. Germany had a very distinct social and economic class system. To raise yourself to a better standard of living was nearly impossible.
Early immigration from Ostfriesland was to Illinois. One of the largest settlements was at German Valley, Stephenson County. The letters to the German honeland told of bountiful land and if a man worked hard he could own his own land and raise a family in this new world. The Ostfriesens stayed together in America as they had lived together in the Old Country. As more peopple arrived, the settlers moved on to more available lands in Shiloh and German townships in Grundy County and Aetna and Clay townships in Hardin County, Iowa. The migration spread to Lyon County, Iowa in the northwestern part of the state and Winnebago and northern Kossuth counties. The Ostfriesens spilled over into the southeastern part of South Dakota and southwestern Minnesota. Thea area around Buffalo Center was settled late because the land was low and marshy and less desirable.
Harm and Dena settled for a short time near Cleves, in Hardin County. Her parents had arrived there just two years before in 1890. In May 1892 their sixth child, Helmer "Elmer" was born. By 1895 they were farming in German Township, Kossuth County. In 1900 Harm and Dena were farming in Grant Township, Winnebago County. By this time the family had grown with the births of four more children: Ted, Albert, Herman and Florence. The last child, John, was born in July of 1903 but died as an infant. Dena's father, Eielt "Al" Abbas, was also making his home with them. His wife Frauke had died in 1897.
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