Willemke Meulenbelt Brand 1863-1947

Willemke Meulenbelt was born February 2, 1863 in Aduard, Groningen, Netherlands. She married Otto Brand Dec 31, 1890. They had two children, Gijsberdina & Jan, before they immigrated to America aboard the Dubbeldam, April 19, 1894. They had two additional kids, Otto & Catherine after arriving in Michigan.

The story I heard from my mother about Willemke is that she pressured her husband into coming to America. Her family had already come across and she really wanted to go also. Otto never really adjusted to life here and didn't even learn English. Interesting, they died 11 days apart. They are both buried in the Pilgrim Home Cemetery in Holland Michigan.

Halloween pasts

Okay - time for another challenge from Genea-Musings. The question is what was your most memorable Halloween.

I don't think we did up Halloweens much in our family. I do remember going trick or treating around my Grandmothers trailer park and I have pictures of me dressed up etc. These days I do enjoy going to my kids school and seeing all the kids dressed up and having fun. But the most memorable probably is still one from high school. A few of us were studying. (I think we had the ACT test coming up). And we decided to put our shortest friend (Martha) into a mask and drive around to people we knew and send her up to the house on her knees to see if they would give her candy. It was quite funny to see my friend doing this! Most people had no idea. I think one person caught on because her nails were always so long which isn't normal for a grade schooler.

The pumpkins are my brothers creation!