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clothing for the suffering Boers. Reverend Troost spoke at fundraising
meetings. Pella's Weekblad collected money for the Boers. Thousands of
dollars were collected, but it was almost impossible to deliver it to the
Boers. Britain controlled the African coast and blocked attempts to help
the starving civilians. The U.S. Government helped the British despite
public protest. When the U.S. put out bids for horses and mules to send
to South Africa, it is said that not a single farmer in Iowa would sell.
Public protests and fundraising faded as the futility became obvious. The
resentment against Britain and the revival of the Dutch language
continued for several years.

Against a backdrop of international news and religious controversy, the
Poot family continued its own domestic life.

William Poot and his fiancee Anna Alberda arrived after Will's October
1898 graduation from the Moody Bible Institute. Their engagement was
announced in Chicago in September. Their marriage was performed by
Rev. J.W. Poot after they arrived in Pella.

Will Poot loved his wife Anna, yet he admitted that their relationship was
not an easy one. In later years he was reticent to discuss their marriage.
Anna came from a religious Dutch family that was active in Rev. J.W. Poot's
church in Hudsonville, Michigan. Anna was fashion conscious, willful, and
headstrong. Qualities that might appeal to a young bachelor, but not
conducive to a peaceful marriage. Anna was also a sociable person, and
liked to ice skate. Unfortunately, wives are usually ignored in old
newspapers and biographies and little else is known about Anna. Their
first child, Lawrence (Larry) was born in Pella on 16 June 1899. This was
announced in the following Thursday's issue of Pella's Weekblad:

JUNE 23, 1899
EXPRESSIONS OF THANKS

Friday last week, the wife of Mr. W.F. Poot successfully labored forth a handsome
healthy son.

Although William had graduated from the Moody Bible Institute, he was
not yet ordained in any specific Christian denomination. He decided to be
ordained in the Congregational Church instead of the Reformed Church.
William remembered his father's battles in Holland with the Dutch
Reformed Church, and would have disliked the current bickering occurring
in Pella. Dr. R.A. Torrey, Superintendent of the Bible Institute, was a
Congregationalist and probably influenced William's choice of the
Congregational Church. Dr. Torrey may have given advice to him and may
have offered to be his sponsor. The Congregational Church had its origins
in England, but appears to have been influenced by the ideas of Dutch
religious refugees living in England. It shared many religious beliefs with

(11-2006) - Published in Pella - page 8 -