B. TEN BROEK

Cooper. Was born on the 18th of January, 1830, in the city of Wageningen,
Gelderland. He was raised in that province until fourteen years of age, and
received a common school education, and at nine years of age commenced to learn
the cooper trade with his father. In the fall of 1846 he crossed the ocean with
his father and brothers.

They landed at New Orleans and came up the river to St. Louis, where they
settled. His father died the same year and the boys went to work at their
trades. Our subject worked here some eight years and then came to Pella. In 1854
he opened a shop. Himself and son made 8,500 barrels for B. S. Schermerhorn &
Co. in 1880, besides doing considerable repair work. He married Gertrude Van Os
on the 9th of October, 1854. She was a native of Gelderland and was born on the
27th of January, 1828. There were four children, Henry, Annie, Aart and
Elisabeth.


B. H. VAN SPANCKEREN, SR.

For many years one of the leading merchants of Pella. Was born in Amsterdam,
Holland, October 15, 1826, where he was raised and received his education. At
the age of fifteen he commenced to learn the baker's trade, at which he worked
for five years. In 1846 he came to America, landing at Baltimore, where he
remained one year, working at his trade. He emigrated to St. Louis, spent one
year there working at his trade, and came to Pella in 1848. Here he conducted a
bakery until 1873, when he opened a general merchandise store and continued in
that business until he retired on account of advanced age, after which the store
was in charge of B. H., Jr., for many years, and was known as one of the leading
business concerns of Pella. He married Miss Dirkje Versteeg in 1851. She was
born on the 8th of July, 1832. By this union there were four children: B. H.,
Carrie, Dora and John. Mr. Van Spanckeren died on the 18th day of December, 1914.