The family of Roel van Vuuren (1793-1859) in the USA

Roel van Vuuren, his wife Grietje and their 7 surviving children boarded the ship “Oscar” in 1848. After 6 weeks at sea, they arrived in the U.S.A. in June. Roel bought 600 acres of land north of the Little Calumet River. Historically, the Little Calumet River and the Grand Calumet River were one, the former flowing west from Indiana into Illinois, then turning back east to its mouth at Lake Michigan.
In the USA, Roel busied himself with farming, stock raising, and fishing. He is said to have been a tall man, while his wife was short.
Roel's children married into other Dutch families in the area. Two of Roel's daughters, Anna and Teuntje, married 2 brothers De Jong. Three other children married into the Gouwens family. 

Roel van Vuuren was born on 1 September 1793 in Streefkerk, Holland, as a son of Lambert van Vuuren (1759-1845) and his wife Neeltje Huisman. Roel was married on 17 October 1818 in Giessen-Nieuwkerk, Holland, to Grietje Baardwijk. Grietje was born on 7 May 1797 in Giessen-Nieuwkerk as a daughter of Giel Baardwijk and Gerritje Huisman, a sister of Neeltje Huisman (see below).

Dirk Huisman
| --------------------------------------------------------
| Neeltje Huisman (ca1758-1840) x Lammert van Vuuren (1759-1845)		| Gerrigje Huisman (1771-1850) x Giel Baardwijk (ca1768-1830)
| Roel van Vuuren (1793-1859)	x | |	| Grietje Baardwijk (1797-1864)
| --------------------------------------------------------
| Anna van Vuuren (1822-1887) x Arie de Jong (1823-1903)		| Teuntje van Vuuren (1825-1886) x Jan de Jong (1825-1903)

 These are the children of Roel van Vuuren and his wife Grietje:

1. Arie was born on 14 February 1819 in Giessen-Nieuwkerk where he died on 14 March 1841, aged just 22.
2. Ghiel (Chiel) was born on 6 June 1820 in Giessen-Nieuwkerk. He died in Nijmegen (south of Arnheim) on 8 January 1840, aged 19.
3. Anna was born on 21 March 1822 in Giessen-Nieuwkerk. She was married on 3 December 1848 to Arie de Jong, born on 7 September 1823 as son of Hendrik de Jong (1804-1903) and Geertje de Vries. Anna van Vuuren died on 3 May 1887. Arie was married in 1888 to Maria Klootemeitzer (1836-1917). Arie died on 2 February 1903. Anna is the mother of Geertje, Roelof, Maria, Grietje, Hendrik and Pieter de Jong.
4. Lammert was born on 29 September 1823 in Giessen-Nieuwkerk. Lammert married Aaltje de Vries (1831-1859). They had a son Roel (1856-1941) who married Aderjana Schaap (1858-1921) and had issue.
5. Teuntje was born on 19 January 1825 in Giessen-Nieuwkerk. She was married there on 15 April 1847 to Jan de Jong, born on 13 February 1825 in Peursum, Holland, as son of Hendrik de Jong (1804-1903) and Geertje de Vries. Teuntje van Vuuren died on 3 January 1886, aged 60. Her widower died on 8 June 1903. They are the parents of Arigje, Hendrikje, Hendrik, Arie, Geertje, Roel and Grietje de Jong.
6. Gerrigje was born on 25 September 1826 in Giessen-Nieuwkerk. Gerrigje married Arie Gouwens, born on 17 January 1825 in Krimpen aan de IJssel in Holland as son of Willem Gouwens and Pietertje Plak. Arie died on 7 April 1895 in Roseland, Ill., USA, and was buried on the 10th. Gerrigje van Vuuren died on 13 March 1902, aged 75. They are the parents of Giela, Willem, Rollin, Nellie and Maggie Gouwens.
7. Neeltje was born on 19 November 1828 in Giessen-Nieuwkerk. She married Arie Zwijnenberg (1820-1911), son of Pieter Zwijnenberg and Adrijana Gouwens (1798-1867). Neeltje died on 4 November 1888. They had 3 children: Jannigje, Roel and Grace Zwijnenberg.
8. Magheltje was born on 9 July 1830 and die don 17 January 1908, aged 77.
9. Marigje was born on 5 February 1832 in Giessen-Nieuwkerk, and died there on the 27th.
10. Dirk (1) was born on 11 May 1833 in Giessen-Nieuwkerk, and died there on 4 June.
11. Dirk (2) was born on 12 September 1935 in Giessen-Nieuwkerk. Dirk was married on 3 December 1854 to Maartje de Jong (also: Young). She was born on 25 April 1835 as daughter of Jakob de Jong and Geertje Eenigenburg. Maartje died on 1 August 1911. Dirk de Jong died on 21 February 1906 in Roseland, Ill., USA., aged 71. They had 6 daughters and 3 sons, including Maggeltje and Jacob.
12. Jannigje was born on 28 October 1837 in Giessen-Nieuwkerk. She married Arie Gouwens. His was born on 6 May 1837 as son of Tijs Gouwens and Hendrika Gelderblom. Jannigje van Vuuren died on 27 January 1908. Her widower died on 24 September 1930, aged 93. They are the parents of Tijs, Dirk, Roel, Hendrik, Grace, Arie and Maggie Gouwens.

Onze Toekomst, 31-1-1951

Sources: "The Dutch Connection in South Cook Country since 1847" @ bronnen-alblasserwaard.nl, Families of South Holland (“Klappers”), WieWasWie.nl, Delpher.nl, Wikipedia.