Martha VanDyke Kreiser 1838-1914

In all my years of doing genealogy, one of my favorite people to research has been my 3rd great-grandmother, Martha VanDyke Kreiser. My great-grandfather, Fritz Kreiser stated he was sauerkraut and pea soup. German and Dutch. His grandmother, Martha was born January 15, 1838 in Usquert, Groningen, The Netherlands to Paul VanDijk and Catharine Slot.

Martha's Birth Certificate (right). Signed by parents and Burgermeister of Usquert.

The family was Roman Catholic and attended the (at that time) clandestine church of St. James, the Great in neighboring village of Uithuizen. Groningen was a very Protestant province, and Catholics, as well as Jews worshipped in buildings that looked like a private home or shop but once you entered looked very much like a beautiful church or synagogue. Only the Dutch Reformed Church had the church buildings in Groningen. Minority religions were granted complete freedom shortly after the VanDykes immigrated to the United States.

In the northern Netherlands, surnames were not adopted until about 1812 when Napoleon forced them to. All surnames up until that point were patronymic. Therefore, your father's first name would have been your last name. My father's name is Bradley, so in those times, my name would be Adam Bradley, as an example. So, any information prior to 1812 is very hard to trace for these people.

Traditional dress of Groningen Province. 

In 1845, Martha's father, Paul passes away at age 42. He was a farm hand, working for wealthy Protestant farmers. Martha is only seven years old at the passing of her father. She has older brothers: Ralph, Paul, Martin who immigrate to Michigan soon afterwards. They were living in Grand Rapids and attending St. Andrew's cathedral. Martha, her brother, Albert, and their mother Catharine immigrate to Michigan in 1854, when she is 16, and resided in Bowne (near Caledonia, MI) and attending the very Irish parish of St. Patrick's, Bowne. Albert fights in the Civil War and marries a fellow Dutch immigrant, Elizabeth Boddema. Note that the names Paul, Ralph, and Albert are still common in the Kreiser line even today! Martha's mother, Catharine passes away in 1865 and is buried at St. Patrick's in Bowne. Her husband, Paul, while buried in the Netherlands, is memorialized on her tombstone.

VanDyke family cottage still standing in village of Usquert.

Martha somehow meets German immigrant, Mathias Kreiser, who was born 1835 in Buchel, Eifel, Rhineland who has already settled at St. Mary's, New Salem, MI with his brother, Nicholas. Mathias and Martha marry in 1858. Mathias could not read or write, signing his name with an X. Martha learned to read and write as a child in Holland, and this was always a source of jealousy for Mathias. The family was very active in St. Mary's, New Salem. I have visited this parish three times, and it is probably one of the most beautiful Catholic Churches I have ever seen. The statues and stained glass windows are breath taking. It's so neat to visit the cemetery and see all those surnames you also find walking through the cemetery at St. Mary's of Hannah. 

St. Mary church and cemetery, New Salem, MI

Martha VanDyke Kreiser passed away 01 February 1914 and is buried in St. Mary cemetery, New Salem beside her husband, Mathias. Her stone is in English, while her husband's is entirely in German. Immigrant Pioneers of New Salem! 

Find A Grave Memorial for Martha.  (Click link!)