From Mardink to Leeuwe to Schroer

K. Oosterkamp

Recently, a book was published of a family tree of a normal but special family. The family tree was dressed with a lot of stories and illustrations. Together they gave a nice image of life in this region during the twentieth century.

In the 1940’s a new road, called the Hessenweg, was constructed. For the most part the former trail was followed but without the curves. The new road was steeled which was a considerable improvement. To cover the expenses toll was charged on various parts of the road. Near the current office of the forester and a campsite called “De Klimberg” a toll house with a swing gate was build. Passing vehicles had to pay toll at that place. In 1909 the toll house was replaced by newly built houses. The new building was used as a toll house until 1921. During that year, the charging of toll was abolished. After that, the building was used as private house. In 1936, the house was burned down. To the local youth, the toll house was a place of gathering. Not the passing vehicles were the reason for the youth to come to the toll house, but the company was.

At that place Derk Jan Schroer and Hendrikje Welink found out they liked each other. They married October 24, 1911 and lived in a simple house in the Stegerveld. They had five children. Unfortunately, one of their children died at the age of two.

Derk Jan and Hendrikje became one of the branches on the Schroer family tree, about which a book was published of about 270 pages. Not only the descendants of Derk Jan and Hendrikje can find their genealogical history in the book, to all Schroer family members it can be a valuable reference, especially if they are interested in their origin, history and family.

The name Schroer showed up in the nineteenth century, however the family tree started with Berend Mardink from Wilsum, in 1650. During the eighteenth century the family name changed to Leeuwe. When a son-in-law took over the farm of his parents-in-law, it was customary for the young man to adopt the family name of his wife so the farm could keep the same name.

Halfway the nineteenth century, the family name Schroer showed up in the family tree. Since then a lot of family member lived Hardenberg and surroundings. Most of the family members were farmers. They owned small farms consisting of agriculture and cattle. Most of the time, they obtained their fields by reclaiming the lands. In 1902, Jan Schroer and his family settled in Rheezerveen on a farm called “Egbertieshoeve.” During that time, his brothers and sister immigrated to America. They searched of a better life in the land of unlimited possibilities. These pioneers also tell their stories.

The book not only consists of names, dates and places. The family tree consists of ten branches and every branch has its own stories. The stories are memories of childhoods, the life of parents and grandparents, domestic life, housekeeping and working on the farm and in the fields. We read about the preserving of vegetables and fruit and the drying and salting of a slaughtered pig. We read about life where people were self-sufficient and people only used a woodstove or oil stove.

The farming was mostly done by hand such as sowing, mowing, harvesting, threshing and milking. Muscles and agility were important.

After World War II, mechanization started and we can read about examples of mechanization. A lot of stories contain memories of war. Some of the families had people in hiding, others didn’t. Every memory contained the Allies, bombers and bombing and waylaying Germans.

In a lot of stories, religion and church are very important. At the end of the war, religion caused pain and hurt. As a result of the schism of the Reformed Church families were torn apart.

After the war, a lot of families considered emigrating because their future in the Netherlands didn’t look promising. Sometimes, the ties between families were an obstacle but a lot of families eventually emigrated. They went mostly to Canada or America. Some Schroer family members also emigrated. In their stories they look back at the decision, the passage and the often laborious start but luckily also the success of their new start.

Al these stories together make a large and full family tree. Of course, some overlap couldn’t be avoided. A lot of family members wrote about similar situations and conditions. About some stories we want to read more, because they end abruptly and we think there is some much more to tell.

However, the stories complement each other and give a fascinating image of the life of normal people in the twentieth century.

The family tree with the names, dates and places are an interesting reference for the member of the Schroer family. However, the stories and illustration are also interesting for everyone who is interested in (local) history.

Herman Schroer has put together, with a lot of help and contributions, a wonderful book. The book is published in house and can be ordered with him.