canal boat which took us in seven days to Buffalo. The journey was resumed there in the Lake boat the PRINCETON which took us in four days to Milwaukee; next a schooner crossed us over to Grand Haven. From there the journey led along old Michigan's shore, on a large flatboat drawn by horses. The Captain of this boat was drunk, and also had a four gallon jug on board. He treated all around. That was the first whiskey we ever tasted. At that time, whiskey was 24c a gallon, but luckily, God be praised, my children, it was always too expensive for me to use, as I saw from example that it was a bitter water to drink. The harbor at Black Lake was as yet closed to navigation, so we were compelled to transfer our belongings to another small boat, the property of Mr. Koovink who brought us all safely to the so-called Indian Village. Here they said was our destination, in the midst of the woods a-twixt Hemlocks and Pines.
Oh, Children, had your Pa had wings he had surely flown across the sea then, but through God's goodness he was unable to return and was destined to live here under a pure religious doctrine and a saving gospel. "He did well with me, the Lord's goodness knows no boundaries."
We lived first in a large blockhouse (log house) that the Indians used as a church, until after six weeks, we, that is, father, mother, Jacob, I, and sister Maaike and Heltje moved into our new blockhouse five miles from town. It took us a whole day to reach there with Ox-team and wagon, and when we reached there it was remarkable how contented and thankful our dear mother was to enter the blockhouse built by her sons. She had not the least regret to inhabit such a lowly cabin in her old age. Father and your Uncle Jacob began felling trees and by spring of 1849 had 30 acres cleared, opening enough for sufficient corn and potatoes for home use. And so gradually prosperity came.
On the 6th of February your father married Jannetje Romeign who in 1849 came from Portugal, South Holland with her step-father A. Van Bree to Zeeland, Michigan. Reverend C. VanDerMuelen was the officiating clergyman.
When our oldest son was five months, our dear mother died at the age of 58 years and five months. She lies buried in the family lot at Pilgrim Cemetery. Father Otto Schaap a year later went back to the Netherlands to his oldest son, Arie in North Holland, and died there in 1857. He was buried in the family lot by his son in winkle, North Holland.
In 1888 your father and mother had the pleasure of making a visit to their sons, Peter in Iowa, and Otto and Arie in Dakota, which will never be forgotten. To see with my own eyes the great land of the west.
The following is the birth register of our family:
| Peter Romeijn | Born Oct 22, 1864 |
| Lysje | Born Sep 2, 1856 |
| Jannette | Born Nov 27, 1858 |
| Otto | Born Dec 6, 1860 |
| Maria | Born Dec 20, 1862 |
| Arie | Born Jan 19, 1865 |
| Miera Cornelia | Born Nov 6, 1867 |
| Miera Cornelia | Born Oct 6, 1870 |
| Miera Cornelia | Died Age 16 Mos. |
| Sygie Cornelia | Born Jan 16, 1873 |
| Sygie Cornelia | Died Apr 8, 1901 |
| Heiltje Maaike | Born Nov 5, 1875 |
| Heiltje Maaike | Died Jan 14, 1902 |
| John Cornelis | Born Sep 6, 1878 |
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