Garret Vanderbeek (1831 - 1904)

Born 23 Sep 1831 in Oldebroek, Oldebroek Municipality, Gelderland, Netherlands

Husband of Jacoba (Vanderbilt) Vanderbeek — married 3 Apr 1859 in Roseland, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States

Descendants

Died 9 Jun 1904 at age 72 in Holland, Lancaster, Nebraska, United States

Biography

Garret was born in 1831. He passed away in 1904.

He emigrated in May, 1857 to Holland, Ottawa County, Michigan and was the first member of this Vanderbeek family to come to America. He relocated the next year to the Dutch settlement in Roseland, South Holland, Cook County, Illinois and married there. The second group of Vanderbeek's immigrated from the Netherlands to Alto, Fond du lac County Wisconsin in 1861, Garret with his wife and three children joined them in Wisconsin and settled in nearby Brandon, Fond du lac County, Wisconsin. The American Civil war was just beginning, the US Army of the North was adding to its ranks by activating state militias. Shortly after arriving in Wisconsin Garrett and his brother Aart enlisted in the 32nd Wisconsin Infantry, Company A. The records indicate they were sworn in on August 12, 1862. They both saw combat action in the Civil War. Garrett was promoted to Corporal and was released from active duty on June 12, 1865. Through the efforts of the Wisconsin Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War and Garret's great grand niece Janet Bosler, a memorial dedication service with an honor guard, was held at his grave site in the Holland Nebraska cemetery on June 5, 2011. A memorial plaque commemorating his service was attached to his grave marker.

Shortly after his release from military service the third group of Vanderbeek's came to America in 1866, and joined the other family members in the Alto/Brandon, Wisconsin area. With the arrival of additional Vanderbeek families they soon became restless and concerned with the lack of available land in Wisconsin for their children. They started looking for a more suitable place to live and raise their families. During Garret's military service adventure he was exposed to the vast size of America. They heard about the Dutch settlement in southeast Nebraska and upon investigation found the area to be open prairie land, available for homesteads or purchase from the railroad at a reasonable price. They also did not want to spend their entire lives clearing the Wisconsin land of timber and were happy the learn there were few trees on the Nebraska prairie. In 1873 the relocation from Fond du lac county Wisconsin to Holland, Hickman, Lancaster County, Nebraska began. Garret came to Nebraska with his family and several of his brothers and sisters and their families. He rented the Lefferdink homestead at 110th street and Princeton road which is one mile east and two miles south of Holland, Lancaster County, Nebraska. They lived there the remainder of his life.

Burial

Holland Cemetery, Holland, Lancaster County, Nebraska, USA, PLOT: Lot 46, Row 3, Block 2

Sources

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/17727798/garret-vanderbeek