Page 97 - Poat_to_Poot_Engels

The village of Grand Rapids officially became a city in 1850 when its 2,700
residents voted to accept the proposed city charter. It was and still is the
seat of Kent County, which was organized in 1831. Grand Rapids
underwent rapid growth until WW1. The population doubled
approximately every ten years and grew from 8,065 in 1860 to 60,278 in
1890 and 80,020 in 1894. In the year 2000, it had about 200,000 city
residents and 525,000 area residents.

The city was a popular destination for Dutch immigration in the 19th
century. Major waves of Dutch immigrants arrived here in 1847-1857 and
again in 1881-1895. The first Dutch settlers came seeking religious
freedom. These early settlers then invited more people to come from the
Netherlands. Later immigrants sought economic opportunity, but were
reassured by the presence of familiar religion and language. By 1900,
approximately 40% of the residents of Grand Rapids possessed Dutch
ancestors.

Some Poots related to J.W. Poot arrived here from Delft between 1900 and
1910. This was a few years after J.W. had moved away from Grand Rapids.
Some Dutch named Burghoorn also moved here and they were in-laws of
the Poot family. Additional Poots have lived here, but their relationships
have not yet been determined.

JW Poot's brother Johannes Jacobus Poot had three children that moved
from Delft to Grand Rapids. Hendrik Jan Poot might have been the first to
arrive and he anglicized his name to Henry. His sister Dena (Lamberdeena)
Johanna Poot arrived in September 1907. Their brother Johannes Jacobus
Poot Junior was the last to arrive in April 1910 when he was aged 17.
Johannes Jacobus used the name Jacob in America and initially lived with
his older brother H.J. Poot.

The Ellis Island immigration records for September 1907 give some
supporting details. These records list Dina Poot, as age 19, born in Delft
and formerly living with her mother there, as arriving by ship from
Rotterdam to New York. She planned to travel to Grand Rapids to meet
her uncle J. Burghoorn. The Burghoorn name is significant because J.W.
Poot's sister Engelina was married to Jacobus Burghoorn and J.W.'s brother
Job was married to Neeltje Burghoorn. Immediately after her arrival, Dena
Poot was married on September 19 to Evert C. Hollander. Evert had
arrived from Holland in April 1907. He worked as a building contractor
and a house mason. Dena and Evert's marriage was probably planned
while they were living in the Netherlands, then Evert traveled ahead to find
work and lodging. Their first child, Henrietta, was born in 1912. Their
next child, Evert C. Hollander Junior, was born on the 5th January 1916.
Dena died in 1964 at age 76. Her husband Evert died 9 years earlier in
1955. Evert Jr. also died in Grand Rapids at the age of 81 in 1997.

(12-2005) - Grand Rapids - - page 2 -