From My Farmhouse Kitchen

Already in elementary school, I enjoyed on Aug. 30, 1839. reading biographies. People’s lives interest me — whether living or dead. Since moving to the Orange City, I have found its history very intriguing. In 1840 Seine Bolks was asked by an independent church in Hellendoorn to be their teacher elder. He continued to farm on a part-time basis to support his wife

One person especially stands out. and young son. He also took theological Dominee Seine Bolks, the first minister instruction under Rev. Albertus C. Van in Sioux County. I don’t think he kept a Raalte. On Dec. 19, 1841, Seine Bolks journal, so it really is impossible to study this man, who is affectionately referred to as “Father Bolks.” FROM MY FARMHOUSE KITCHEN was formally installed as pastor. He preached on Psalm 27:4. Through much prayer and thought this He was born more than two centuries ago on April 30, 1814 in a small farmhouse called the Flierboer near the vilBy Renae B. Vander Schaaf congregation began making plans to move to America. The lack of religious freedom, a poor economy and high taxes lage of Linden, Overisel in The Netherlands. His were compelling motivations. father died when he was only eight months old. To be a better shepherd to his flock, Dominee

His mother Zwaantje Bolks stayed on their small Bolks took some medical training before they left farm with her four young children. It definitely their village on Aug. 18, 1847. They boarded the wasn’t easy, but her faith in God was strong. American sailing vessel, Audobon, on Sept. 3, 1847. At a very young age, Seine was sent out to the pastures to The voyage took 37 days to reach its destination of New York. tend the sheep. His mother sent When they left the ship on Oct. 11, they had no a Bible with him to read, which idea of where they were going to settle; only this he did while the sheep grazed. goal of setting up a new fellowship in America with He had received enough educa- the Bible in one hand and the plow in the other. tion that he could read. I have often wondered how those days alone while laboring as a shepherd with the Bible as his only book to read prepared him for his future work. Since it was winter, they stayed in Syracuse, N.Y. where many found employment. During this time, the travelers made the decision to settle in Michigan, near the Van Raalte colony. They left Syracuse on May 1, 1848. By the time he was 20 years old, he was appointed by the local church elders in Den Ham to teach a class in Reformed catechism. He was soon asked to preach occasionally. He began to feel the call to be a preacher — yet he knew he hadn’t had any formal education. Dominee Seine Bolks A month later, on June 1, they arrived to an area of dense forest. This was so different than the Netherlands. They were accustomed to well-established cities with then-modern conveniences. Amsterdam was 700 years old. It was a city with houses, not a wilderness filled with wolves, bears and snakes. Here they had to fell trees before they could even build shelter of any type. Obviously, that first summer was focused on survival. They planted vege-

It’s interesting to note that the word “Bolks” is tables in any clearing. Those first years were not easy. Dutch for the small white haddock fish. Especially so, when he would spend his life being a fisher of men. Bolks preached in the open air during the summer. In the winter, church took place in one of the first huts that had been built. A year later, they con-

At that time The Netherlands was experiencing structed a log church. turmoil. In the year 1816, King William of the Netherlands had placed all church government under state control. The government paid the clergy salaries and strongly suggested what should be preached. In less than 20 years, several congregaBolks received no salary. Instead, men of the settlement devoted one day every two weeks of labor to help the Bolks family on their 63 acres which was allotted to them. tions separated from the church, because the Bible At first they named their new settlement was no longer truthfully preached as the word of Hellendoorn. Later, in 1851, it was renamed God. Overissel after their province in The Netherlands.

The Bolks family were part of the group which Bolks remained their pastor, physician and ecohad seceded from the state church, along with their nomic advisor for four years. Then he helped a neighbors the Gerrit and Hendrika Brouwer family. church in Chicago which had been without a pastor Perhaps it was at a church gathering that Seine for some time. For six weeks he preached and took a shine to the Brouwer’s daughter Geertje. encouraged the people. In 1853 he became the pas-

On July 11, 1838, on her birthday, Geertje martor for a small congregation in Grand Haven, Mich. ried Seine, who was at that time described as being It was here that he and his wife experienced a tall and well built. Their first son Albert was born great tragedy in their own lives. Mrs. Bolks mother was seriously ill. She still lived in Overissel. On Sept. 26, 1854, Dominee Bolks, his wife and three of their children left to go visit her. As they were crossing the Pigeon River, their horse spooked. Consequently, the buggy overturned, plunging the passengers into the river. Their three sons, six-yearold Seine Hendrik, fouryear-old Hein, and fourmonth-old Simon drowned. Two other Bolk children would also die at a young Photo by Renae B. Vander Schaaf age. Four children lived to First Reformed Church in Orange City had a special ripe old ages. tombstone made for their Two years later, the beloved first pastor. Bolks family again moved. This time to the First Reformed Church in Milwaukee. America was in a crisis over the issue of slavery. He studied political affairs and closely followed local and national events and kept his flock informed through congregational meetings. Bolks could read English. Many of his church family could not. He did encourage them to learn the English language. It is said that Bolks did not inject politics in his sermons, but held strictly to the exposition of the Word of God when preaching.

He strongly encouraged people to vote and also told his parishioners, “It is the Christian’s unequivocal duty to exert what influence he can to promote the welfare of his country.”

On Dec. 7, 1862 Dominee Bolks was installed as pastor of a settlement south of Chicago called Low Prairie. A week later he also became pastor of

See FARMHOUSE KITCHEN, pg. 8

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