Emigratie

Henderikus J. Bot en Gerada J. Peters 1908 Hero W. Bot en Anna Paagman

Willem Bot (zwager van Jacobus Tjaarts Alma) vertrekt in 1886 met zijn vrouw Deborah Schreuder en acht kinderen naar Ghent in Lyon County, Minnesota, nadat twee van zijn zonen (Bernard en Hero) daar in 1884 eerst een seizoen de situatie als boerenknecht hebben verkend. Willem wordt stamvader van een bloeiende tak van de familie Bot in de VS. Twee zonen van Willem en Deborah (Hero en Henderikus) keren in 1907 terug naar Nederland om daar met een Nederlandse bruid te trouwen. De twee nieuwe echtparen keren in augustus 1907 weer terug naar de VS op de USS Rijndam en nemen neef Kornelis Bot (tot dat moment winkelier te Bedum) op hun reis mee. De familierelaties tussen deze mensen worden duidelijk in onderstaande figuur. Het jaartal van vertrek staat in blauw. ST ELOI In 1983 verscheen een boek over de geschiedenis van Ghent, Minnesota. Met name van de parochie St. Eloi (b). Hieronder wat zij schrijven over Willem Bot en zijn vrouw Debora: BOT, WILLIAM H. AND DEBORA (SCHREUDER) BOT William H. Bot Sr. was born March 12, 1836, in Warfhuizen, Provence of Groningen, Holland. His marriage to Debora Schreuder took place November 25, 1859. Debora was born at Leermens, Holland in October of 1839. While in Holland, Mr. Bot was a wholesale merchant of dry goods and wearing apparel. He was active in civic affairs and architect of the Catholic Church in Luppersum. Because William's sons wanted to farm, and available land was scarce in Holland, in 1884, two of the boys, Bernard and Hero, came across the ocean to decide if they would like farming in America. Two years later, Mr. and Mrs. Bot settled in Lyon County accompanied by their children, all of whom were born in Holland, namely: Hero (1861); Bernard (1864); Reinier (1866); Theresa (1870); Kathryn (1873); Henry (1876); John (1879); William H. II, (1880). The Bots bought a farm from Mr. B. F. Jellison; after purchasing the 480 acres of land in Grandview Township (one and one quarter miles from Ghent) and paying cash for it, they had the sum total of 38 cents cash left. However, game being very plentiful on their land and the boys being good marksmen, they managed to survive on wild game, plus their own dairy and farm products. As was typical of the customs of the time, after each harvest a "celebration" took place; treats included "chocola" (a hot-chocolate drink), and a huge bowl of dried prunes placed in the center of the table. The Bot's farm home was unique for America but very typically European. It was built piecemeal with the living area on one end; the chicken coop attached to the side of the house; the barn attached to the chicken coop, and lastly, the familiar "out house" was "in" —in the barn. Mr. Bot prospered on the farm, and at the time of his death on April 2, 1906, was the owner of 1200 acres of Lyon County farm land. Soon after her husband's death, Mrs. Bot moved to the Village of Ghent, making her home with her son, Hero. Two sons, John and William II, rented part of the home farm for a couple years, John later taking full charge and buying the place. Mrs. Bot died on February 21, 1922, at the age of 81 years. Veel van de nakomelingen van Willem en Deborah blijven wonen in Ghent. Zij worden ook beschreven in hetzelfde boek. Voor deze beschrijvingen verwijs ik naar de detailverslagen op de laatste pagina van dit del van de website.

WILLEM HERO BOT en DEBORAH SCHREUDER

USS

RIJNDAM

19-26

augustus

1907

Willem Bot 1836-1906 Deborah Schreuder 1839-1922 Heere Berends Bot 1800-1848 Catharina Willems Bos 1814-1882 X 1832 X 1859 1886 Hero Bot 1861-1948 Anna Elisabeth Paagman 1867-1949 X 1907 Henderikus Josephus Bot 1876-1941 Gerada Jantina Peters 1885-1966 X 1907 Bernardus Bot 1833-1912 Anna Maria Poelma 1850-1926 Kornelis Bot 1878-? 1886 X 1870

EMIGRATIE