Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 13, Number 11, DeMotte, Jasper County, 22 January 1943 — MR. AND MRS. PETER WALSTRA CELEBRATE 60TH ANNIVERSARY [ARTICLE]

MR. AND MRS. PETER WALSTRA CELEBRATE 60TH ANNIVERSARY

v • . . • ... On January 20, Mr. and Mrs. ‘ ■ Peter Walstra commemorated their 60th wedding anniversary. They were married in Hol land, January 20, 1883. Dur ing their stay in Holland, 12 children were born to them.' Mr. Walstra worked for 23 years for one Tanner, until the time that they migrated i to America. In 1903, one of their sons of 17 years of age left to come to the United States, the fob lowing year two more sons left also for the United States and in April 1906 the rest of the family came to America. As a co incidence the family left Holland ond Mr. Walstra’s birthday, April 14, 1906, on the U. S. Statendam, a boat of 12,000 tons. They arrived in Grand Rapids, Michigan, April 24th. They were met there by their three sons who preceded them to this country and also a brother of Mr. Walstra. Their stay in Grand Rapids was only two years and then they moved to Indiana —in this community and settled on the Otis Ranch, where they farmed for Mr. Otis for nine years, after this they moved to their own farm, 4 miles west of De Motte, where they farmed for 23 years, until old age caused them to retire. At this time they built a little home next to their daughter, Mrs. Albert Roorda, where they have lived for the past three years. While in the United States two more children were born to this union, one in Grand Rapids and one here in DeMotte. Four sons, namely, Gerrit, Cornelius, Andrew and Dannie have passed away. There are at present ten children still with them, Mrs. Richard Peter son. Fair Oaks, John of Fair Oaks, Sam, Henry and Louis and Mrs. Albert Roorda of DeMotte, Jake of Lansing, HL, Mrs. Geo. Hoffman and Mrs. Martin Hoffman of DeMotte, and Mrs. Meno Musch of Le Roy. There are 47 grand children apd 10 great grandchi Id ren. The best wishes of their friends is extended this couple, who have done so much for our community.