We've been wanting for a long time
to take a road trip to Michigan and see some of the areas
where my dad grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan
and find some of the graves of my ancestors.
I went to Michigan in my 20s
but I went this time with more desire of seeing
how the different relatives lived and maybe feel
the history of my forefathers by visiting there homes.
My dad's grandfather and great-grandfather
immigrated here from Goes, Netherlands
and were the first immigrants in the United States
from the Netherlands.
Most my ancestors on other lines came to the United States
really early on, like in the 1600s
so this was different and rewarding
to see my ancestor that arrived in 1857
Peter Reynders (1827-1895) Maria de Wijs Reynders (1824-1893)
They first came to Plymouth, Michigan and later to Grand Rapids, he was a painter by trade,
They brought 3 young children and had 5 more, one dying in infancy
"Reynders" originally spelled "Reijnders"
My dad's maternal great-grandmother,
"Anna St Denis Gordon" (1844-1916)
she immigrated from Canada,
this is a brick wall as far as family history goes.
Her death certificate has her last name as "Clayton"
but we were always told that "Clayton" was her married name
and her maiden name was "St Denis"
and that her parents names were Felix and Mary
but we have few sources.
She married a war veteran in her later years "Charles A Gordon"
She worked her whole life, for a time on a ship as a cook,
other times in service at a home where she also left her daughter
"Mable Clayton" my great-grandmother 1869-1952)
who was adopted by the family that Anna worked for and
Mable stayed in touch with her birth mother her whole life.
Anna also worked at the Tuberculosis hospital which is where Mable worked too.
Anna also had a second child while working on a boat.
She gave him the last name of "Clayton"
Here she is, my dad's grandmother "Mable Clayton Dolton"
She had a hard life.
Was left with a family so her mother could earn money.
Married and had 7 children that she had to place with other families
because her husband went to jail for larceny
and she had no income to take care of them.
My dad's mother, Martha Thaxton (1896-1927)
was put in a home at age 12
and later married my Grandfather Dee Allen Reynders.
They met at church.
My grandmother played the organ.
She was very musical and could play hymns by ear.
140 Prospect, Grand Rapids, Michigan
I loved seeing houses of my ancestors.
This is the house of Peter Jr & Luella Williams Reynders.
My great-grandparents raised their 5 children here.
730 Bristol Avenue, Grand Rapids, Michigan
This is my grandaunt Beth Reynders Anderson
sister of my pop, Dee Allen Reynders
and her husband was Lorand Anderson.
She is who I was named after.
She raised my dad when he was young.
My dad's mother died of tuberculosis when he was only 6 months old.
This is the house my grandfather Dee Reynders built for his family.
My dad grew up here with his 4 other siblings.
1458 Covell Road, Grand Rapids, Michigan
We also went to Hart Michigan
My 2nd great grandparents settled here
Dr Samuel Randolph & Mary Marine Williams
We had to pull over and take a picture of "Reenders"
really close to my maiden name "Reynders"
"Big Red" Lighthouse at Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan was beautiful!
Shops at Holland, Michigan
Fun to see this Windmill
We were here just 2 weeks too late to see the tulips
This map was on the wall of the Netherlands.
"Goes" is where my ancestors are from
We also stopped in Indiana
Greenfield, Indiana and Indianapolis, Indiana
Home of the Hoosier Poet, James Whitcomb Riley
A favorite relative of my dad
He's my 2nd cousin 3 times removed
Downtown Indianapolis at Lockamy Square
Unfortunately the museum was closed
but in Greenfield, Indiana his childhood home museum was open
We loved being able to go here
We also got to go to some church history sites.
Kirtland Temple (Ohio)
Special feeling here.
Tree of Life
Hill Cumorah, Palmyra, New York
The Sacred Grove in Palmyra
Palmyra Temple
I forgot to put this grave on here.
This is Ann Cammack Williams (1781-1859)
Cedarville, Ohio
My Williams ancestors were from South Carolina
and moved to Ohio and Indiana and later to Michigan
fun area, neat cemetery
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