Janna Hendrika Oonk was the youngest daughter of Jan Willem Oonk and Janna Gessina Damkot. She was born in Kotten, Aalten, Netherlands. In 1847, and at the age of 12,Janna, her parents, and her five siblings immigrated to the United States arriving in New York.
Thereafter the family boarded the steamboat, The Phoenix, headed across Lake Michigan to Wisconsin. On November 21, 1847, The Phoenix caught fire in the middle of the night, only miles from the shore of Wisconsin. Some 200 people died in the fire or in the freezing waters of Lake Michigan. Janna, her father and three of her siblings miraculously surived, but her mother and two brothers perished in the disaster. Many of these victims were buried along the shore of Lake Michigan.Janna and her father and siblings thereafter settled in the town of Lima, west of Gibbsville, Wisconsin.
On November 10, 1854, and at the age of 19, Janna married Berend Willem "Ben" Pietenpol. Janna and Ben had eight children (in birth order): Jane; Johannah; Henry; Josephine John; Kate; Catherine and William Pietenpol.
Janna passed on December 17, 1903 at the age of 68 in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.
_________________________
From the book " The Fateful Journey" by John Textor
" Family stories tell us the sight of fire terrified Janna Hendrika her entire life. This indelible memory stayed with her forever".
Thereafter the family boarded the steamboat, The Phoenix, headed across Lake Michigan to Wisconsin. On November 21, 1847, The Phoenix caught fire in the middle of the night, only miles from the shore of Wisconsin. Some 200 people died in the fire or in the freezing waters of Lake Michigan. Janna, her father and three of her siblings miraculously surived, but her mother and two brothers perished in the disaster. Many of these victims were buried along the shore of Lake Michigan.Janna and her father and siblings thereafter settled in the town of Lima, west of Gibbsville, Wisconsin.
On November 10, 1854, and at the age of 19, Janna married Berend Willem "Ben" Pietenpol. Janna and Ben had eight children (in birth order): Jane; Johannah; Henry; Josephine John; Kate; Catherine and William Pietenpol.
Janna passed on December 17, 1903 at the age of 68 in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.
_________________________
From the book " The Fateful Journey" by John Textor
" Family stories tell us the sight of fire terrified Janna Hendrika her entire life. This indelible memory stayed with her forever".
Janna Hendrika Oonk was the youngest daughter of Jan Willem Oonk and Janna Gessina Damkot. She was born in Kotten, Aalten, Netherlands. In 1847, and at the age of 12,Janna, her parents, and her five siblings immigrated to the United States arriving in New York.
Thereafter the family boarded the steamboat, The Phoenix, headed across Lake Michigan to Wisconsin. On November 21, 1847, The Phoenix caught fire in the middle of the night, only miles from the shore of Wisconsin. Some 200 people died in the fire or in the freezing waters of Lake Michigan. Janna, her father and three of her siblings miraculously surived, but her mother and two brothers perished in the disaster. Many of these victims were buried along the shore of Lake Michigan.Janna and her father and siblings thereafter settled in the town of Lima, west of Gibbsville, Wisconsin.
On November 10, 1854, and at the age of 19, Janna married Berend Willem "Ben" Pietenpol. Janna and Ben had eight children (in birth order): Jane; Johannah; Henry; Josephine John; Kate; Catherine and William Pietenpol.
Janna passed on December 17, 1903 at the age of 68 in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.
_________________________
From the book " The Fateful Journey" by John Textor
" Family stories tell us the sight of fire terrified Janna Hendrika her entire life. This indelible memory stayed with her forever".
Thereafter the family boarded the steamboat, The Phoenix, headed across Lake Michigan to Wisconsin. On November 21, 1847, The Phoenix caught fire in the middle of the night, only miles from the shore of Wisconsin. Some 200 people died in the fire or in the freezing waters of Lake Michigan. Janna, her father and three of her siblings miraculously surived, but her mother and two brothers perished in the disaster. Many of these victims were buried along the shore of Lake Michigan.Janna and her father and siblings thereafter settled in the town of Lima, west of Gibbsville, Wisconsin.
On November 10, 1854, and at the age of 19, Janna married Berend Willem "Ben" Pietenpol. Janna and Ben had eight children (in birth order): Jane; Johannah; Henry; Josephine John; Kate; Catherine and William Pietenpol.
Janna passed on December 17, 1903 at the age of 68 in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.
_________________________
From the book " The Fateful Journey" by John Textor
" Family stories tell us the sight of fire terrified Janna Hendrika her entire life. This indelible memory stayed with her forever".
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