Tombstone Tuesday: Great-Great-Great Grandparents #28

Reijer and Jentje (Bouwman) Sneller were married February 20, 1864 in Heerde, Gelderland, Netherlands.  Reiner Sneller was born in 1839 in Oldebroek, Gelderland.  Jentje Bouwman was born abt 1842.  Together they had seven children.  Jentje died in April 1877 at the age of 35 in Michigan.  Reijer died March 3, 1906 in Michigan at the age of 67.  He is buried in the Bentheim cemetery, Overisel Township, Michigan.  I could not find a headstone.

Blue Willow Love

I always have liked the blue willow pattern.  No, I didn't grow up with it in my house and I don't
remember any of my grandparents having it either.  I did have a friend in grade school whose parents owned a nice house (at least it was to me) and had a beautiful side board with china.  I think that is where I saw it and remembered it in part of my mind.

When I really look at the pattern now, I like the boarder with the geometric shapes and the two birds flying free plus the bright blue color (that's the dutch side).  I also have a fondness for willow trees.  We had two in our yard as a child that we used for swings and they were beautiful.  But there were many things I never noticed about it also.  I never looked at the buildings and thought China or saw the three men charging over the bridge.

I bring this up now because we are moving stuff out of my father-in-law's house due to a move to a different state.  I kept on coming across pieces of the blue willow here and there, a lot of it damaged.  Then there was a WHOLE box full of it.  It was covered in dust and a few pieces cracked but still beautiful.

Out of all the different patterns and types of china we are uncovering, this one seems unloved and unappreciated, even though someone else must have loved it too, at one time.  I think it is time that it was loved and had some tender care.  And hopefully my children will love and care for it as well.

Tombstone Tuesday: Great-Great-Great Grandparents #27

Hendrik and Zwaantje (Schrotenboer) Lubbers were married October 9, 1865 in Fillmore Township, Michigan.  Together they had 15 children.  Hendrik was born January 30, 1838 in Bentheim and died February 4, 1865 in Fillmore Township, Michigan.  Zwaantje was born October 10, 1847 in Fillmore Township, Michigan and died February 17, 1904 in Fillmore Township.  Together they are buried in the Graafscap Cemetery.

Tombstone Tuesday: Great-Great-Great Grandparents #26

Johannes and Geertje (Bos) Hellenthal were married March 26, 1842 in Overijssel, Netherlands.  Johannes was born February 26, 1816 in Overijssel and Geertje was born about 1811, also in Overijssell.  Together they had 7 children.  Johannes died September 28, 1889 and Greet died September 16, 1894, both in Zeeland, Michigan and both are buried in the East Holland Cemetery.  (Stone is very faded but can make out parts of the writing.)