I just finished reading the book,
My America, by Everett John Gerard Bloemendaal. This book is an emigrant memoir by a Gelderland (province in the Netherlands) villager's son. It was a fascinating read. Mr. Bloemendaal is a great story teller and gives a detailed account of his journey from a Holland village to being an important and successful farmer of Orange City, Iowa, USA. He puts himself in the hands of the Lord and trusts in His will as he emigrated from Holland in 1867. With many blessings and calamities, he tells his remarkable (and sometimes humorous) story in an informative way. The book was originally called
Naar Amerika (To America) and was written in 1911 to inform prospective emigrants in Holland of both the favorable and unfavorable things about America's people and potential (as well as established) farmland, villages and cities. He warns of natural disasters and also of sins prevalent in this part of the world. It was not until 1965 when Arnold Vander Wilt (member of Bloemendaal clan) asked Rev. Conrad Veenstra to translate it so that non-Dutch speaking family and friends could learn of Everett's journey. It was then re-released in 2009 for "a new generation" by Carol Van Klompenburg with the help of friends and family of Everett's. I recommend this book to anyone interested in real stories of early immigration, history, adventure, or the strength and endurance it took to be a pioneer of this, our America.
**Note to my family: When you read this book, you will be stricken with wonder as you see names of people and places you may recognize. However, as far as I have found, these are purely coincidental.
Posts
