Mum's grandfather, Arnold Hurkman, first came to America from Holland in 1855. He soon became one of the pioneers of Outagamie county as a leading land owner in the township of Vandenbroek. Filled with ambition as soon as he got off the boat, Arnold marched down Broadway in New York City with his shotgun at the ready. At age 27 he was full of confidence. His shotgun was loaded for "b'ar." He had come to America to hunt. And after a long voyage across the Atlantic, he was itchy and down right trigger happy.
While hunting bear never proved up to the tall tales he imagined, Arnold came to appreciate the slow but steady payoff of raising Wisconsin pigs and potatoes. He traded them for fur pelts from the Indians. Eventually his diligence paid off. Arnold bought 200 acres of land north of Kaukauna on Rose Hill with a partner. As a part of his next deal, Arnold laid down his shotgun all together for another parcel of land. Arnold had come a long way from his days on Broadway loaded for bear and took the next step.
In 1862, as he was ready to settle down, Arnold married Jane Verstegen of Little Chute . She, however, had other plans. She died a few weeks later of a liver infection. Domestically determined as once he hunted bear, Arnold married Hendrina Berendsen the next year. Together they had six children: Annie, Mary, Nellie, John, Henry and Bernard.
Having laid down his arms and now married, Arnold had indeed come a long way. In fact, seeing life differently during the Civil War, Arnold hid in the woods to escape getting drafted by the Union army. His wife, Hendrina, dutifully brought him meals every day. Arnold developed bronchitis in the woods and later died at age 58.
As the story goes, the 120 acres that made up Arnold's farm was part of an original purchase in 1793 by Mr. Dushareme from Chief Eagle for two barrels of rum. The son of Chief Eagle later tried to claim back the property but was bought off ... by a bit more rum. The farm steadfastly remained in the Hurkman family for generations -- and became Arnold's lasting legacy greater than any trophy he could have hunted or otherwise imagined.
Richard,
ReplyDeleteActually, Arnold first came to the US in 1851.
Jay at www.1familytree.com
Page 934 of "History of Outagamie County," Thomas H. Ryan, Editor; Chicago Goodspeed Historical Association Publishers. Published in 1911.
Arnold Hurkman was born in Wintelre, Holland, on May 5, 1828. After his father and mother died, and also his brother, Wilbertus, who was about to be ordained a priest, he decided to go to America. He left his sister, Mary, in a convent to finish her education. It was his intention to return to Holland for his sister within two years if he liked America and decided to make his home here. He left Amsterdam to sail for America in 1851. He had always cherished a great ambition to become a mighty hunter and on first arriving in this country, displayed what his conception of the New World had been by marching down Broadway with his shotgun on his shoulder looking for "B'ar."He first settled in Minnesota but remained only a short time. On hearing that hunting in Wisconsin was very good, he decided to locate in Outagamie County. Here he purchased a small tract of land located on the south side of the Fox River about one half mile from Kaukauna. A log cabin was built and when he wasn't hunting, he raised potatoes and pork which he traded with the Indians for skins. In 1855, he formed a partnership with a friend, Henry Hammen. Together they purchased 200 acres of land north of Kaukauna on what is known as Rose Hill. Later, in dividing the property, Mr. Hurkman gave Mr. Hammen a double barrel shotgun for 20 acres of his share. After being in this country about two years, Mr. Hurkman returned to Holland to keep his word to his sister. On reaching Holland, he learned she was married and was content to remain in Holland. After settling his father's estate, selling his share for almost nothing, he returned to America. When returning to America the second time, several of his friends in Holland came with him. Those unable to pay their passage agreed with Mr. Hurkman to work for him in America in exchange for their passage. On landing in this country, the party made it west by train. A man passing as the conductor asked one of the men in the party to see his ticket and, when it was presented, he pocketed it and left. This caused some consternation, but the ticketless man hid under a seat each time the conductor came through and so the difficulty was solved. Hurkman married Adriana Verstegen, daughter of his friend and neighbor, Arnold Verstegen. They were married on February 16, 1862. Adriana became ill with an infection of the liver only two weeks after her wedding and grew worse rapidly. She died on May 24,1862.Hurkman married Hendrina Berendsen in September 1863. They had six children. In 1872 he bought I80 acres just east of the original purchase and erected a log cabin in which the hired help lived. Later he sold all but 120 acres which became his farm home. In May of 1878 he moved his family to this farm. (They walked across the fields from one farm to the other.) They lived in the log house until a new home was erected within a year, and the log house was again used by the hired help. The 120 acres of land which now became their home was part of an original purchase in 1793 by Dominic Ducharme from Indian Chief Wabisipine (Eagle) and Chief Tobacnoir for which was given two barrels of rum. Later the son of Chief Wabisipine (Little Eagle) made claim to the property which was satisfied with two additional gallons of rum by Ducharme.