On 6 May 1871 when Geert Willems was 35, he first married Annigje Dolfing, daughter of Jan Dolfing (10 Jul 1791-) & Jantje Alberts (17 Jan 1802-6 Aug 1858), in Emmen, Drenthe.538 Born on 5 Feb 1843 in Westerbork, Drenthe.538

On 11 Nov 1873 when Geert Willems was 37, he second married Johanna Stokking, daughter of Anthonie Stokking (15 Oct 1806-) & Femmegien de Jong (ca 1807-7 Mar 1848), in Grandville, Kent County, Michigan. Born on 22 Nov 1839 in Dalen, Drenthe.538 Johanna died in Blendon Township, Ottawa County, Michigan, on 2 Feb 1918; she was 78. Buried on 5 Feb 1918 in Georgetown Township Cemetery.

Death Certificate
http://seekingmichigan.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/...29401coll7/id/147242
Johanna Steen, b. 22 Nov 1839, d. 2 Feb 1918, housewife, widowed, b. Netherlands, parents names unknown, informant Anthony Steen. Died of apoplexy. Burial 5 Feb 1918 Hudsonville.

On 1 Feb 1871 when Anna was 30, she second married Jan ten Cate, son of Arend ten Cate (2 Nov 1794-8 Feb 1853) & Henriette Margaretha Gross (16 Dec 1795-21 Jul 1864), in Emmen, Drenthe.538 Born on 29 Oct 1828 in Hoogeveen, Drenthe.538 Jan died in Vastenow (Emmen), Drenthe, on 26 May 1887; he was 58.538

On 21 Jun 1866 when Lammechje was 20, she married Jan Twiest (65048) , son of Harmannus Twiest (60566) (2 Aug 1795-28 Jan 1847) & Geertruda Wijnholds (62745) (8 Oct 1812-9 Jun 1878), in Emmen, Drenthe.538 Born on 5 Apr 1842 in Roswinkel (Emmen), Drenthe.538 Jan died in Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan, on 15 Nov 1920; he was 78. Buried on 18 Nov 1920 in Washington Park Memorial Gardens, Grand Rapids. Occupation: Laborer.

Jan (John) and Lammechje (Laura) immigrated to Michigan in 1884 with six children. Two others were born after they arrived. Laura’s parents had immigrated to Michigan 17 years earlier.

1884 Michigan State Census. Wyoming Township, Kent County
John Twist was 38 years old, Lamencha 38, Hermanus 17, Dena 15, William 12, Gertrude nine, Frederick six, and Garrett three. All were born in the Netherlands. John and William work in the plaster mill. The family has only been in Michigan one month (no date is given at the top of the page for when this census was actually taken). All but Fred and Garett can read and write.

Grand Rapids City Directory, 1889. Grand Rapids, MI: R. L. Polk and Co., 1889.
Five Twiests are listed in the directory, all living at 467 Lincoln. Dena and Roberdiena are probably the same person working two jobs.
    John Twiest, laborer
    Herman Twiest, varnisher, Widdicomb Furn Co
    Roberdiena Twiest, belt mkr
    Dena Twiest, net mkr, business F. Rainville
    Wm Twiest, laborer

1900 Federal Census. Grand Rapids ward 6, Kent Co., Michigan
Roll 722, page 23A, ED 67
454 Lincoln Street
    John Twist, head, b. Apr 1843, age 57, m. 33 years, imm. 1884, day laborer
    Lamagiche Twist, wife, b. Dec 1846, age 53, m. 33 years, 9 children, 8 living, imm. 1884
    Fred Twist, son, b. Apr 1879, age 21, imm. 1884, delivery
    Geret Twist, son , b. Jan 1881, age 19, imm. 1884, machine [can’t read word]
    Jennie Twist, daughter, b. Sep 1885, age 14, milliner
    Alyda Twist, daughter, b. Dec 1880 [should be 1890], age 10, at school
All were born in the Netherlands, and their parents, too, except Jennie and Alyda born in Michigan.

1910 Federal Census. Grand Rapids ward 6, Kent Co, Michigan
Roll 657, page 10B, ED 82
457 Lincoln St.
    John Twist, head, 67, m. 43 years, b. Holland, parents b. Holland, imm. 1884, laborer
    Laura Twist, wife, 64, m. 43 years, 9 children, 8 living, b. Holland, parents b. Holland, imm. 1884
    Alida Twist, daughter, 21, single, b. MI, parents b. Holland, millinary

1920 Federal Census. Walker Township, Kent County, Michigan
Roll 779, page 5B
Walker Road
    John Tweist, head, 76, imm. 1882, b. Netherlands, parents b. same
    Lamdechje Twiest, wife, 76, b. Netherlands, parents b. same

Certificate of Death, State of Michigan, Department of State, Division of Vital Statistics; Walker Township; Kent County; Register 13, Number 528. John Twiest died 15 November 1920 of Apoplexy. He was married to Lammiche Steen, born in Drenthe, Netherlands, on 5 April 1842, and was 78 years, seven months and 10 days old at death. His father was Herman Twiest and his mother, Gertude Wynhold. Both were born in the Drenth, Netherlands. He was buried in Washington Park Cemetery on 18 November 1920. J.H. Joldersma & Son of Grand Rapids were the undertakers. Gerrit Lemmink, with a residence at North and Bristol NW, was the informant.

John’s obituary appeared in the Grand Rapids Press, Tue 16 Nov 1920.

On 28 Sep 1881 when Claus was 31, he first married Florence Lowing, daughter of Isaac Newton Lowing (27 Jan 1823-7 Jun 1908) & Jane Lavon West (9 Dec 1830-19 Feb 1891), in Georgetown, Ottawa County, Michigan. Born on 26 Sep 1857 in Michigan. Florence died in Georgetown, Ottawa County, Michigan, on 23 May 1892; she was 34. Buried in Georgetown Township Cemetery.

1860 Federal Census. Georgetown, Ottawa County, Michigan
Roll 557, page 186
    Isaac Loving Jr, 37, farmer, $2000 real estate, $400 personal estate, b. NY
    Jane Loving, 29, b. NY
    Florence Loving, 2, b. MI
    Douglas Loving, 10 months, b. MI
    Klass Houstan, 16, farm laborer, b. Holland

1870 Federal Census. Georgetown, Ottawa County, Michigan
Roll 697, page 70
    Isaak N. Lowing, 46, farmer, $6000 real estate, $1400 personal estate, b. NY
    Jane Lowing, 39, keeps house, b. NY
    Florence Lowing, 12, b. MI
    Elroy Lowing, 11, b. MI
    Arthur Lowing, 9, b. MI
    Joe Lowing, 6, b. MI
    Elva Lowing, 3, b. MI
    Estol Lowing, 1, b. MI
    Frances West, 72, b. NY

1880 Federal Census. Georgetown, Ottawa County, Michigan
Roll 601, page 427A
    Isaac N. Lowing, 57, farmer, b. NY, parents b. NY
    Jane Lowing, wife, 49, keeping house, b. NY, parents b. NY
    Florence Lowing, daughter, 22, at home, health: measles, b. MI, parents b. NY
    Arthur Lowing, son, 19, at home, b. ditto
    Joe Lowing, son, 15, at home, b. ditto
    Alice Lowing, daughter, 13, at home, b. ditto
    Athel Lowing, daughter, 11, at home, b. ditto
    Edwin Lowing, son, 5, b. ditto

Return of Deaths in the County of Ottawa
Florence Stein, d. 25 May 1892 æ. 34y 7m 29d at Georgetown, Ottawa County, resident of Georgetown, b. Michigan, married, housewife, daughter of Isaac N. & Jane Lowing, died of consuption of lungs

On 6 Aug 1894 when Claus was 43, he second married Elma A. Bosworth, daughter of Elisha Parker Bosworth (6 Dec 1821-5 Apr 1904) & Elizabeth H. Lowing (1 May 1833-22 Apr 1904), in Grand Haven, Ottawa County, Michigan. Born on 3 Jun 1857 in Manlius, LaSalle County, Illinois. Elma A. died in Georgetown, Ottawa County, Michigan, on 4 Aug 1906; she was 49. Buried on 7 Aug 1906 in Georgetown Township Cemetery.

Elma’s first husband was Elijah Fremont Spicer.

1860 Federal Census. Manlius, LaSalle County, Illinois
Roll 196, page 237
Post Office Marscilles
    Elisha P. Bosworth, 38, farmer, $3600 real estate, $600 personal estate, b. VT
    Elizabeth Bosworth, 26, b. NY
    Elma Bosworth, 3, b. IL
    Lily Bosworth, 2, b. IL
    Effy Bosworth, 5 months, b. IL
    Harvey Bosworth, 21, farm laborer, b. NY

1870 Federal Census. Manlius, LaSalle County, Illinois
Roll 243, page 343A
Post Office Seneca
    Elisha R. Bosworth, 48, farmer, $4000 real estate, $1200 personal estate, b. BT
    Elizabreth Bosworth, 37, keeping house, b. NY
    Elnora A. Bosworth, 13, b. IL
    Lillie E. Bosworth, 11, b. IL
    Effie B. Bosworth, 10, b. IL
    Ruth E. Bosworth, 2, b. IL
    Frank E. Bosworth, 1, b. IL
    Mary Bosworth, 23, school teacher, b. MI

1880 Federal Census. Rutland, LaSalle County, Illinois
Roll 224, page 667A
    Elijah F. Spicer, 23, farmer, b. IL, father b. CT, mother b. NY
    Elma A. Spicer, 22, wife, housekeeping, b. IL, father b. VT, mother b. NY
    Scott Hubbard, 14, laborer, laborer, b. IL, parents b. IL

Death Certificate
http://seekingmichigan.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/...29401coll7/id/613746
Mrs. (Elma) Claus Steen, b. 3 Jun 1857, d. 4 Aug 1906 at Georgetown Twp., Ottawa County, married, housewife, b. Illinois, daughter of Elisah Bosworth (b. NY) & Elizabeth Lowing (b. NY). Informant Calus Steen. Died of acute indigestion, contributory neuralgia of heart. Burial 7 Aug 1906 at Georgetown Cemetery.