The Family of Rudy Kok
Excerpted from a Family History by Jill Cook
(Note: Our family descends through John Kok. Jill's family descends through John's brother, Gerrit. I have put the names of our ancestors in bold.)
"...Aries Kok was an orphan. He was orphaned at the age of seven when his parents died (unknown cause). He then was raised by his grand parents...on his father’s side. Aries was born in Holland where he later...married Hilda Van Simmeron. They had a son named Roelf, (my great-grandfather) also born in Groningen Holland. Roelf was born Dec 18, 1865, the only child. Later he married Jenny Witharr, the daughter of Jan (John) Witharr and Hilda Duentde in 1891. They were both Dutch Reformed, as were all my Dutch ancestors. Their first child Jan (John) was born Feb. 22, 1893. The second child Aries Kok (named after Roelf’s dad) was born Dec. 26, 1894, and died eight years later. Hilda came next, she was born Sept. 10, 1895. Another son named Aries was born, he only lived one year. The 3rd surviving child was ...Geert (Gerrit) he was born Nov 13, 1899.... The last child Jenny...gave birth to was Roelph, he was born Dec. 14, 1912.
" In 1912, Roelph Kok made the biggest decision in his life. As a farmer, he was going to leave the poor lands of Holland, and venture to the rich land of opportunity….the U.S. He saved enough to get himself, his wife, and four children on a boat bound for the states. The trip took nine long days. All the immigrants were first brought to a place called Ellis Island, this was located off of New York. This was sort of a drop-off place, they were all given physical exams here. The unhealthy, or diseased immigrants were shipped back home. Luckily the whole family checked out. However, my grandfather’s youngest brother Roelf had 2 previous convulsions in Holland, and later died during his third convulsion in America at age 7. The family left Ellis Island headed for Chicago. The whole family was hired to work on a farm for a man who lived in Mommense. My grandfather, and his family worked there 5 years, then bought a farm of their own. Also during this time my grandfather was becoming a citizen so he could fight (his citizenship came too late.) At this point, the government record keepers asked him if hid like to change his name, Americanize it; Cook instead of Kok. My grandfather at that time changed his name, however his brother Jan (John) did not. Back to the farm, the family pulled and struggled to maintain the farm. But the oldest son Jan was tired of farm work and the boring farm life. As a teenager the only event was an occasional hayride! Jan went to the big town, “South Holland” where the real action was. Later my grandfather too left the farm to work in South Holland for a factory. The farm was too much for Roelph, and Jenny to keep up with. They moved to a little house in South Holland. My great grandfather died there in 1927, and my great-grandmother followed him thirteen years later...."
Excerpted from a Family History by Jill Cook
(Note: Our family descends through John Kok. Jill's family descends through John's brother, Gerrit. I have put the names of our ancestors in bold.)
"...Aries Kok was an orphan. He was orphaned at the age of seven when his parents died (unknown cause). He then was raised by his grand parents...on his father’s side. Aries was born in Holland where he later...married Hilda Van Simmeron. They had a son named Roelf, (my great-grandfather) also born in Groningen Holland. Roelf was born Dec 18, 1865, the only child. Later he married Jenny Witharr, the daughter of Jan (John) Witharr and Hilda Duentde in 1891. They were both Dutch Reformed, as were all my Dutch ancestors. Their first child Jan (John) was born Feb. 22, 1893. The second child Aries Kok (named after Roelf’s dad) was born Dec. 26, 1894, and died eight years later. Hilda came next, she was born Sept. 10, 1895. Another son named Aries was born, he only lived one year. The 3rd surviving child was ...Geert (Gerrit) he was born Nov 13, 1899.... The last child Jenny...gave birth to was Roelph, he was born Dec. 14, 1912.
" In 1912, Roelph Kok made the biggest decision in his life. As a farmer, he was going to leave the poor lands of Holland, and venture to the rich land of opportunity….the U.S. He saved enough to get himself, his wife, and four children on a boat bound for the states. The trip took nine long days. All the immigrants were first brought to a place called Ellis Island, this was located off of New York. This was sort of a drop-off place, they were all given physical exams here. The unhealthy, or diseased immigrants were shipped back home. Luckily the whole family checked out. However, my grandfather’s youngest brother Roelf had 2 previous convulsions in Holland, and later died during his third convulsion in America at age 7. The family left Ellis Island headed for Chicago. The whole family was hired to work on a farm for a man who lived in Mommense. My grandfather, and his family worked there 5 years, then bought a farm of their own. Also during this time my grandfather was becoming a citizen so he could fight (his citizenship came too late.) At this point, the government record keepers asked him if hid like to change his name, Americanize it; Cook instead of Kok. My grandfather at that time changed his name, however his brother Jan (John) did not. Back to the farm, the family pulled and struggled to maintain the farm. But the oldest son Jan was tired of farm work and the boring farm life. As a teenager the only event was an occasional hayride! Jan went to the big town, “South Holland” where the real action was. Later my grandfather too left the farm to work in South Holland for a factory. The farm was too much for Roelph, and Jenny to keep up with. They moved to a little house in South Holland. My great grandfather died there in 1927, and my great-grandmother followed him thirteen years later...."